title: Prognostic value of circulating CD34+ cells in myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: We studied circulating (C)CD34(+) cells by flow cytometry in 96 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) at diagnosis, and in a subset of 35 cases during follow-up. CCD34(+) counts were stratified within both International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) and World Health Organization (WHO) categories. Counts >10/microl were associated with poorer leukemia-free survival, a prognostic value for evolution independent from that of WHO, and a higher progression probability within intermediate-risk IPSS and WHO classes. When serial measurements were performed, counts >10/microl more frequently correlated to evolution. Separating newly diagnosed patients on the basis of 10/microl cut-off of circulating CD34(+) cells retains prognostic utility, especially in intermediate-risk MDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine and Division of Hematology, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy. clara.cesana@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cesana
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klersy
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brando
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nosari
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scarpati
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scampini
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molteni
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nador
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoleri
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Formenti
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cairoli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34