Prognostic value of mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes: a meta-analysis.

Although DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3 alpha () gene mutations have been widely reported in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the prognostic significance of mutations is still controversial. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the prognostic effect of mutations in patients with MDS. Eligible studies from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Clinical Trials and the Cochrane Library were searched. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were pooled to assess the effect of mutations on the prognosis in MDS patients. A total of 12 studies with 2236 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled HRs for OS and LFS revealed that MDS patients with mutations had a significantly poor prognosis as compared with those without mutations (OS: HR = 1.654, 95% CI = 1.387-1.973, < 0.001; LFS: HR = 4.624, 95% CI = 3.121-6.851, < 0.001). This meta-analysis showed an adverse prognostic effect of mutations in patients with MDS, which will contribute to risk stratification and prognostic assessment in the disease.