Objectives: Although DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A) gene mutations have been widely reported in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the prognostic significance of DNMT3A mutations is still controversial. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the prognostic effect of DNMT3A mutations in patients with MDS. Methods: 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 DNMT3A mutations on the prognosis in MDS patients. Results: 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 DNMT3A mutations had a significantly poor prognosis as compared with those without mutations (OS: HR = 1.654, 95% CI = 1.387-1.973, p < 0.001; LFS: HR = 4.624, 95% CI = 3.121-6.851, p < 0.001). Discussion and Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed an adverse prognostic effect of DNMT3A mutations in patients with MDS, which will contribute to risk stratification and prognostic assessment in the disease.
Keywords: mutations; hypomethylating agents; leukemia-free survival; meta-analysis; myelodysplastic syndromes; overall survival; prognosis; risk factors.