title: Prognostic value of trisomy 8 in primary myelodysplastic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), sole +8 is categorized as intermediate cytogenetic subgroup. But as some myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with +8 perhaps progress quickly to acute leukaemia and have shorter survival, some reports have suggested that +8 should be categorized into poor risk cytogenetic group. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic role of +8 in MDS patients by comparing patients with normal karyotype, 20q- and -7/7q-.
  
  
  METHODS
  The consecutive samples of 435 MDS patients in Shanghai were collected by prospective methods and diagnosed according to World Health Organization classification. Cytogenetic analysis was performed using conventional G-banding karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques. Prognosis was estimated by univariate Log-rank method and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 424 cases completing the cytogenetic analysis, 71 (16.7%) had +8, including 38 patients with sole +8 (9.0%). No significant difference in median survival was observed between patients with sole +8 and that with +8 and one of other abnormalities. The +8 clone size was not linked to survival. The median survival of patients with +8, normal karyotype and complex karyotype was 25months, 38.1months and 5.9months respectively. However, no significant difference was observed between patients with 20q- (21.4months) and -7/7q- (25.8months). Trisomy 8 was an independent prognostic factor by Cox regression model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no significant difference in prognosis between patients with +8 and patients with 20q- or -7/7q-. Trisomy 8, 20q- and -7/7q- are categorized as intermediate cytogenetic risk according to our primary study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014314:Trisomy / Q000235:genetics