Reduction in multi-lineage and erythroid progenitors distinguishes myelodysplastic syndromes from non-malignant cytopenias

Received 20 January 2009; received in revised form 6 March 2009; accepted 14 March 2009.

Abstract

We studied the diagnostic role of CFC assays in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) using CFC data from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) of 221 MDS patients, 51 patients with non-malignant causes of cytopenia and/or dysplasia and 50 normal controls. A consistent decrease in BM but not PB multi-lineage and erythroid progenitor frequencies was seen in patients with MDS compared to controls (P<0.05). Automated distinction showed a sensitivity of 87±6% and a specificity of 71±11% in classifying MDS patients. In conclusion, a defect in early hematopoietic progenitor activity, in particular erythroid activity, distinguishes MDS from non-MDS.

Keywords: Myelodysplastic syndromes, CFC, Hematopoietic progenitors, Diagnostic criteria

a Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

b Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

c Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

d Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada

e Medical Biophysics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada

f Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada

g Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada

Corresponding author at: BC Cancer Research Centre, 675 West 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1L3. Tel.: +1 604 675 8033; fax: +1 604 675 8049.

PII: S0145-2126(09)00142-8

doi:10.1016/j.leukres.2009.03.019

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