title: Interpreting new molecular genetics in myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a clinically and cytogenetically heterogeneous group of clonal diseases characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, peripheral blood cytopenias, and an increased risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. The precise molecular mechanisms behind the development of MDS have remained elusive; however, the distinct sensitivity of this disease to DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and the presence of markedly abnormal epigenetic profiles suggested the existence of an epigenetic mechanism underlying the disease. Recently, the advent of new technologies for the detection of genetic abnormalities has led to the description of a set of novel recurrent mutations in patients with this disease. The majority of these novel mutations have been described in genes encoding different components of the epigenetic machinery, many of which are associated with distinct clinical outcomes. Finally, mutations in mRNA splicing genes have also been described recently in MDS, underscoring the molecular complexity that underlies the development of this heterogeneous disease.
authors.affiliation: Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program and Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abdel-Wahab
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Figueroa
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D000090205:DNA Methyltransferase 3A; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D049308:Dioxygenases; D018450:Disease Progression; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C473949:ASXL1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000717967:DNMT3A protein, human; D006657:Histones; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C538784:IDH2 protein, human; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase; C543588:IDH1 protein, human; D049308:Dioxygenases; C541081:TET2 protein, human; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D000090205:DNA Methyltransferase 3A; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2