Time-dependent prognostic scoring system for predicting survival and leukemic evolution in myelodysplastic syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to identify the most significant prognostic factors in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) taking into account both their values at clinical onset and their changes in time and to develop a dynamic model for predicting survival and leukemic evolution that can be applied at any time during the course of the disease.


METHODS
We studied a learning cohort of 426 MDS patients diagnosed at the Department of Hematology, San Matteo Hospital, Pavia, Italy, between 1992 and 2004, and a validation cohort of 739 patients diagnosed at the Heinrich-Heine-University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany, between 1982 and 2003. All patients were reclassified according to WHO criteria. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using Cox models with time-dependent covariates.


RESULTS
The most important variables for the prognostic model were WHO subgroups, karyotype, and transfusion requirement. We defined a WHO classification-based prognostic scoring system (WPSS) that was able to classify patients into five risk groups showing different survivals (median survival from 12 to 103 months) and probabilities of leukemic evolution (P < .001). WPSS was shown to predict survival and leukemia progression at any time during follow-up (P < .001), and its prognostic value was confirmed in the validation cohort.


CONCLUSIONS
WPSS is a dynamic prognostic scoring system that provides an accurate prediction of survival and risk of leukemic evolution in MDS patients at any time during the course of their disease. This time-dependent system seems particularly useful in lower risk patients and may be used for implementing risk-adapted treatment strategies.
Malcovati
Luca
L
Department of Hematology, University of Pavia, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Germing
Ulrich
U
Kuendgen
Andrea
A
Della Porta
Matteo G
MG
Pascutto
Cristiana
C
Invernizzi
Rosangela
R
Giagounidis
Aristoteles
A
Hildebrandt
Barbara
B
Bernasconi
Paolo
P
Knipp
Sabine
S
Strupp
Corinna
C
Lazzarino
Mario
M
Aul
Carlo
C
Cazzola
Mario
M
D001803:Blood Transfusion; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003582:Cytogenetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome