Combining the measurement of Hb levels and the Ki-67 proliferation index with other laboratory or clinical assessments (eg, the Flow Cytometric Scoring System, aberrant marker expression on myeloid blast cells and specific cytogenetic/molecular aberrancies) may further improve the prediction of transfusion-dependence in MDS patients and should thus be investigated in future studies.15 The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is myelodysplastic syndrome.