The MDS Beacon™

This article is part of a series about stem cell transplantation in MDS, which will be published over the next couple of weeks. The series will explain the different types of stem cell transplants, describe the procedure for both patient and donor, address benefits and risks, and talk about prognosis and life after a transplant.

Introduction

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of diseases that affect the production of stem cells in the bone marrow. Patients with MDS frequently overproduce…

Researchers from Spain have found that transfusion intensity may be more closely associated with poorer prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients than the total number of red blood cell transfusions.

“Our results show that 60 percent of the association strength between transfusion burden and acute leukemia-free survival is mediated by transfusion intensity,” wrote Dr. Arturo Pereira from Hospital Clinic in Barcelona in an email to The MDS Beacon. 

Dr. Pereira presented the findings at the 15^th Congress of the European…

When Carl Riegel was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes in 2006, one of his main concerns was his children.

“I was starting my second batch of kids,” said Riegel, 63. “I really wasn’t planning on checking out early.”

Riegel has a 10 year old daughter, as well as a daughter who is 34 and a son who is 32 from his first marriage. With the prospect of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) looming, Riegel said he and his wife took the news very…

Higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients who achieve at least stable disease experience prolonged survival.  Additionally, for patients with stable disease, continued treatment with Vidaza (azacitidine) may lead to an improved response. These results were presented by Dr. Alan List of the Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, on June 7 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting.

”Stable disease is a highly significant predictor for overall survival,” said Dr. List.

Previous research has…

Researchers yesterday presented interim results of an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of sapacitabine.  The clinical trial is being conducted with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients who are resistant to treatment with Vidaza (azacitidine) or Dacogen (decitabine).  Researchers presented the trial results at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2010 annual meeting in Chicago.

Sapacitabine is a new drug being developed by Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals as a potential treatment for MDS and acute myeloid leukemia.  Sapacitabine damages the DNA of cancer cells and prevents the cells…

Almost all people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) get anemia, or low red blood cell levels, as a result of MDS. “Anemia is almost universal in MDS,” wrote Dr. David Steensma of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in an e-mail to the MDS Beacon.

In MDS, the bone marrow produces reduced amounts of mature blood cells of all types, including red blood cells, so people with MDS are especially at risk for anemia.

Red blood cells are often the first to be…

Bob Macfarlane, currently 65 years old, has never been afraid of a good fight.

Whether from his time fighting in the Vietnam War or teaching students the fundamentals of computer science and mathematics over 40 years as an adjunct professor at numerous Florida universities, Macfarlane is a man who is not afraid to confront tough situations. This includes his diagnosis with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

It was May 2001 when Macfarlane’s private doctor first told him there might be something wrong.…

Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa, or DPO) relieves the symptoms of anemia for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients and improves patients’ quality of life, according to a recent study published in the journal Leukemia & Lymphoma. 

For the majority of low- or intermediate-1 risk MDS patients, anemia, or low red blood cell count, is the most common cause of symptoms that significantly alters their quality of life.  Although regular red blood cell transfusions can relieve symptoms and keep the body adequately supplied with…

For many patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), common treatment regimens are not always effective against their disease. In such situations, physicians may recommend turning to new combinations of treatments or newly developing treatments through participation in clinical trials.

Taking part in a clinical trial is a huge decision for both patients and their families, and it is one that should be made with careful consideration.

This guide, which will be published as a series of articles over the next couple…

The treatment options for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients represents a continuing discovery process with different levels of intensity as evaluated in a recent review of treatment options published in the supplement of the journal Cancer Control.

The main goals when treating high-risk MDS patients are to increase overall survival and delay progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Researchers also strive to improve quality of life through supportive care, achieve independence from red blood cell transfusions, and decrease symptoms.

Options for…