[New advance of research on prognostic factors in myelodysplastic syndrome--review]

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) represents a heterogeneous group of myeloid malignancies characterized by abnormal differentiation and maturation of myeloid cells, bone marrow failure, and a genetic instability with enhanced risk to transform to acute myeloid leukemia. Many factors influence on the prognosis of MDS. The prognosis of MDS subtypes has been changing with the application of World Health Organization (WHO) classification and different new prognostic scoring system, the technology development of cytogenetics and flow cytometry, and the advent of new drugs. A series of recent literatures are summarized on different prognostic factors of MDS. In this review, the controversy in application of WHO classification, MDS prognosis in relation with prognostic scoring system, cytogenetics, immunophenotype and therapeutics were discussed.