Overview of the Management of Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Journal Name
The Cancer Journal
Primary Author
Singh A
Author(s)
Singh A, Carraway HE
Original Publication Date

Myelodysplastic syndromes: (my-eh-lo-diss-PLASS-tik SIN-dromez) A group of disorders where the bone marrow does not work well, and the bone marrow cells fail to make enough healthy blood cells. Myelo refers to the bone marrow. Dysplastic means abnormal growth or development. People with MDS have low blood cell count for at… or myelodysplastic neoplasms (both abbreviated MDSs) (Leukemia 2022;36:1703-1719) have historically been challenging diseases to treat owing to their complex biology, molecular diversity, and a patient population that is elderly with comorbidities. As the patients are living longer, incidence of MDSs is rising, and challenges in selecting MDS treatments or lack thereof have been becoming more apparent. Fortunately, with better understanding of molecular underpinnings of this heterogeneous syndrome, numerous clinical trials: Clinical research is at the heart of all medical advances, identifying new ways to prevent, detect or treat disease. If you have a bone marrow failure disease, you may want to consider taking part in a clinical trial, also called a research study. Understanding Clinical Trials Clinical… reflecting the biology of disease and catering to the advanced age of MDS patients are in development to maximize the likelihood of identifying active drugs. Addressing this diverse nature of genetic abnormalities, novel agents, and combinations are in development to formulate personalized treatment approaches for MDS patients. Myelodysplastic syndrome is categorized into subtypes that are associated with lower or higher risk for leukemic evolution, and that knowledge helps with therapy selection. Currently, as it stands, for those with higher-risk MDSs, hypomethylating agents are the first-line therapy. Allogenic stem cell transplantation represents the only potential cure for our patients with MDSs and should be considered for all eligible patients with higher-risk MDSs at the time of diagnosis. This review discusses current MDS treatment landscape, as well as new approaches in development.

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