Treatment of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes 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… (MDS) involve clonal hematopoiesis hematopoiesis: (hi-mat-uh-poy-EE-suss) The process of making blood cells in the bone marrow. and cellular dysplasia, driven by genetic and epigenetic alterations. Spliceosome mutations and epigenetic dysregulation underscore the intricate pathogenesis of MDS. The bone marrow bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. microenvironment, stromal dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and immune dysregulation contribute to disease progression. This complex pathogenesis underscores the necessity for targeted therapies, offering a personalized medicine approach, particularly in lower-risk patients. The development of risk scores such as the International Prognostic Scoring System International Prognostic Scoring System: A system that turns patient data into a score. The score tells how quickly a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) case is progressing and helps predict what may happen with the patient's MDS in the future. Also called IPSS. (IPSS), its revision (IPSS-R), and the incorporation of molecular genetics into the IPSS-M have refined the diagnostic and prognostic framework of MDS. These scoring systems facilitate tailored treatment strategies and better prognostication, especially for lower-risk MDS patients. The progression from IPSS to IPSS-R and now to IPSS-M epitomizes the shift towards personalized medicine in the management of MDS. In this review we discuss recent developments and positive phase III studies in lower-risk MDS. The review concludes by proposing a treatment algorithm for lower-risk MDS and highlighting ongoing trials in this heterogeneous population of patients.