Is the addition of molecular biomarkers helpful to diagnose MDS?

Patients with cytopenia are increasingly examined by molecular genetic analyses to detect genetic mutations because cancer develops from acquired mutations over years but without clinical presence in early stages, therefore it is important to consider further investigations. CHIP was defined to lessen the numbers of incorrect diagnoses of MDS and to improve early detection. This entity is considered to be a potential precursor state of MDS. The progress in molecular genetic analyses was an important step forward, and might be useful to diagnose patients suffering from MDS. Clonal hematopoiesis seems to be a great risk factor for the development of hematologic cancers. The prevalence of clonal hematopoiesis increases with aging. The rate of transformation into hematologic cancers is 1% per year. Clonal hematopoiesis is seen especially in elderly and associated with increased risk of hematologic cancers.