Comments on: Vidaza and Dacogen Improve Overall Survival Of MDS Patients (EHA 2009)

By: Connie Johnson

Connie Johnson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:26:33 +0000

My sister had her second bone marrow biopsy done and has been on Revilamid for app. 15 months and her blood levels continue to drop , she has only had two transfusions in that time length. Her results on the last biopsy results were persistent clone with add (5q), with new clonal evolution to include del (20q), suggesting an aggressive myeloid disorder. The plan is to change her medication to something new. Could anyone give us an understanding of what is going on?

By: Becky Jean

Becky Jean — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:52:26 +0000

Hi Ranichintam: I haven’t started Vidaza but wondered what kind of side effects you had.

By: Beacon Staff

Beacon Staff — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:07:52 +0000

Hi Ranichintam, The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend that Vidaza be given for 4-6 cycles but that the number of cycles may need to be extended. A number of recent studies have shown that prolonged Vidaza therapy can improve response and sometimes even survival in higher-risk patients, patients who achieve stable disease, and transfusion-dependent patients. Vidaza can also be used prior to stem cell transplantation.

By: ranichintam

ranichintam — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:25:29 +0000

I have MDS with RARS Intermediate risk 1. I am responding well to Vidaza. I completed X4 cycles. Is this life long treatment? I read median survival 31/2 years. Can you explain this?

By: Julie Shilane

Julie Shilane — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:43:49 +0000

Janice, According to http://www.marrow.org, if you have fully recovered from your hepatitis A, you would be eligible to register as a bone marrow donor. However, your sister should check with her MDS specialist to see whether as an MDS and CMML patient she would be eligible to receive a transplant from someone who had hepatitis A. You will both also need to be tested to make sure you are a match.

Albert, Dacogen is available in South Africa on a compassionate use basis, meaning that it is not yet approved in South Africa but is given on a case-by-case basis to patients who don’t have many or any other treatment options. Each individual case is reviewed by the local medicines control council. I have emailed you contact information for a medical advisor at Janssen-Cilag, the company that markets Dacogen outside of the U.S. Your physician should contact him for assistance with your case.

By: Albert w

Albert w — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:10:25 +0000

Is Dacogen still being manufactured if so how available is the drug worldwide? I am a South African citizen and was treated with this drug in 2008 and 2009 and my situation remained stable and has not transformed into AML as yet.

By: Janice Dunn

Janice Dunn — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:56:53 +0000

My sister has MDS with cmml and might be considering a bone marrow transplant, I had hepititus back in 1978. It is type A. Would it be a possibility to be a donor for her if needed?