The 2016 Revised World Health Organization Classification of 'Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Isolated Del(5q)'; Prognostic Implications of Single Versus Double Cytogenetic Abnormalities
Authors: Gurney Mark , Patnaik Mrinal M , Hanson Curtis A. , Litzow Mark R. , Al-Kali Aref , Ketterling Rhett P. , Tefferi Ayalew , Gangat Naseema 
Published: October 2019

Background: 'Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with isolated del(5q),' as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (SwederlowSH, et al, 2008) is a unique pathological entity with favorable outcomes. The 2016 revision to the classification expands this entity to include cases that have an additional cytogenetic abnormality, with the exception of monosomy 7 or del(7q) (Arber DA, et al, Blood 2016). The objective of our study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of an additional cytogenetic abnormality, other than monosomy 7 or del(7q), in patients with 'MDS with isolated del(5q)'.

Methods: After due IRB approval, the Mayo Clinic MDS database (n=1067) was utilized for this study. All patients had bone marrow (BM) biopsies and cytogenetic studies performed at diagnosis. The International Society for Cytogenetic Nomenclature guidelines were used for cytogenetic nomenclature, while the 2008 and 2016 WHO criteria were used for morphological diagnosis.

Results:

Patient Characteristics:

72 patients (7.2%) met the 2016 WHO criteria for 'MDS with isolated del(5q)' of which 60% were female and median age was 74 years (28-90). In 61 (85%) cases del(5q) was the only cytogenetic abnormality, while in 11 (15%), del(5q) was present with an 'additional cytogenetic abnormality' (ACA). One additional case within the database had del(5q) accompanied with monosomy 7, which was not included in the analysis. Risk stratification by IPSS-R was as follows; 24 (29%) 'very low', 44 (64%) 'low' and 4 (6%) 'Intermediate' risk, with no patient classified as 'high' or 'very high' risk. At a median follow up of 43 months, 55 (76%) deaths and 5 (7%) leukemic transformations were documented.

del(5q) versus del(5q) with an additional cytogenetic abnormality- phenotypic correlates:

In the 'del(5q) with ACA' group, the additional abnormalities included trisomy 8 (n=4), del(20q) (n=3), der(9;18) (n=1), inv(3)(p25,q21)(n=1), -Y (n=1), and i(Xp) (n=1) (Table 1). There was no significant difference between the 'del(5q)' and 'del(5q) with ACA' groups in terms of age, gender, hemoglobin, platelet count, white cell count, absolute neutrophil count, bone marrow blast percentage or transfusion requirement. A greater proportion of the 'del(5q) with ACA' group (27%) had IPSS-R risk in the 'intermediate' category compared to the 'del(5q)' group (2%) (p=0.01). 18 of 42 cases diagnosed after 2004 (43%) were treated with lenalidomide, with no difference in the proportions treated between the two groups (p=1.00).

del(5q) versus del(5q) with an additional cytogenetic abnormality- impact on overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS):

The median survival of the cohort was 54 months. Survival was not significantly different between the 'del(5q)' group (median 55 months) and the 'del(5q) with ACA' group (median 38 months) (p=.75, Figure 1). This finding was consistent when analysis was restricted to patients in both groups treated with lenalidomide (p=0.29). The incidence of leukemic transformation in the del(5q) group was 5%, compared with 18% for the 'del(5q) with ACA' group (p=0.16), however there was no significant difference in LFS between the two groups (p=0.57).

Conclusion : In our cohort of primary MDS patients meeting the 2016 WHO definition of 'MDS with isolated del(5q)', we confirm no significant survival difference between cases with del(5q) as the sole cytogenetic abnormality versus cases where del(5q) was accompanied by an additional cytogenetic abnormality.

Table 1 Additional Cytogenetic Abnormalities with del(5q): Table 1. Additional Cytogenetic Abnormalities with del(5q): Figure 1 del(5q) vs del(5q) with an additional abnormality (ACA): Overall Survival Figure 1. del(5q) vs del(5q) with an additional abnormality (ACA): Overall Survival

Disclosures

Al-Kali: Onconova Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding.