The myelodysplastic syndromes pose important clinical and scientific chal lenges which in recent years have attracted growing interest within haemato oncology and molecular genetics. Their potential as a model for the study of human leukaemogenesis makes this one of the most exciting fields in contemporary haematology. Rapid progress towards understanding these disorders had created the need for international interdisciplinary communi cation. In order to fulfil this need the First International Symposium on Myelodysplastic Syndromes was organized in Innsbruck, Austria, in June 1988. The substantial number of excellent speakers and of participants manifested the great international interest on the topic. The present volume consists of the contributions of most of the speakers at this Symposium. We wish to thank all those who submitted their manus cripts. G. ]. Mufti Franz Schmalzl Contents Classification and Cytopathology of Myelodysplastic Syndromes The Classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes J. M. Bennett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Discussion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes in Clinical Practice: of Subtypes Frequency G. Flandrin . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Pathogenesis of Anaemia in the Myelodysplastic Syndrome A. Jacobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Immunological Abnormalities in the Myelodysplastic Syndrome T. J. Hamblin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Pediatric Experiences in Myelodysplastic Syndrome H. Gadner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Myelodysplastic Syndromes in Childhood: Description of 11 Cases E. T. van't Veer-Korthof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Value of Cytochemical Investigations in the Diagnosis of the Myelodysplastic Syndromes F. Schmalzl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Enzyme Cytochemical Studies in Myelodysplastic Syndromes A. De Pasquale and D. Quaglino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Classification and Cytopathology of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The Classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Discussion
Classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes in Clinical Practice: Frequency of Subtypes
Pathogenesis of Anaemia in the Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Immunological Abnormalities in the Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Pediatric Experiences in Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Myelodysplastic Syndromes in Childhood: Description of 11 Cases
The Value of Cytochemical Investigations in the Diagnosis of the Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Enzyme Cytochemical Studies in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Immunological Phenotyping of Blood and Bone Marrow Cells From Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Bone Marrow Biopsy in RAEB and RAEB-t Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Discussion of Poster Session I
Cyto- and Histopathology of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Maturation Pattern and Evolution of Leukemia in the Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Therapy-Related Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia
The Prognostic Value of Abnormal Localization of Immature Precursors in the Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Bone Marrow Histology in Myelodysplastic Syndromes: An Update
Evolution of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Conversion of Myelodysplastic Subtypes to Acute Leukemia: A Follow-Up Study
Primary Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Chronic Myelofibrosis
Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Myelofibrosis: A Report of Seven Cases
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia and Atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia with Lymphadenopathy
Generalized Lymphadenopathy in Juvenile Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Is Due to Lymph Node Infiltration with Myelomonocytic Cells and Immature T Cells
Impaired Monocyte/Macrophage Differentiation inthe Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Discussion of Poster Session II
Cytogenetic Anomalies and Molecular Biology of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Cytogenetic Anomalies and Their Clinical Significance
Genetic Consequences of Chromosomal Abnormalities in the Myelodysplastic Syndromes
ras Mutations in the Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Study of the Rearrangement of Proto-oncogene MET in 88 Cases of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
In Vitro-Culture Studies in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
ras Oncogenes in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Growth Factors in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
In Vitro Granulopoiesis in Myelodysplastic Syndromes According to the FAB Classification
Therapy of Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Supportive Care and Chemotherapy
Therapeutic Implications of Understanding Pathogenesis: Clinical Relevance of Prognostic Factors
Supportive Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation in MDS
Retinoic Acid Therapy in the Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Phase III Evaluation of Low-Dose Cytosine Arabinoside Versus Supportive Care in the Treatment of Adults With Myelodysplastic Syndrome: An Intergroup Study by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the Southwest Oncology Group - Preliminary Results
Intensive Chemotherapy in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Therapeutic Effects of Low-Dose Cytosine Arabinoside Without or With 1;25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Myelodysplastic Syndromes and in Elderly Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia
Low-Dose Cytosine Arabinoside Regimen Adapted to the FAB Classifications of Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Is it Superior to Uniform Treatment for all Types of MDS?
Results of Low-Dose Cytosine Arabinoside and Agressive Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Aggressive Chemotherapy in Adult Primary MyelodysplasticSyndromes: A Report on 29 Cases
Therapy of Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Biological Response Modifiers and Growth Factors
Recombitant ?2b-Interferon in the Management of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
A Phase II Clinical Trial of Recombinant Interferon-? on Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Treatment of Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes with Recombinant Human Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor: A Phase I/II Trial
Combined Treatment Modality with Recombinant Human Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor and Low-Dose Cytosine Arabinoside in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
GM-CSF Combined with Low-Dose Cytosine Arabinoside: A Trial Proposed for High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Results of a Dose-Finding Study
Discussion of Poster Session III.