Korean researchers have determined that stem cell transplantation with partially mismatched donors may be possible for myelodysplastic syndromes patients after a reduced-intensity preparative therapy.

The researchers suggest that this approach be applied if a matched donor is not available or patients are unable to undergo preparative therapy at full intensity.

However, they also point out that further studies are needed in other ethnicities because their study included only Korean patients, who tend to have similar genetic makeup and experience fewer cases of graft-versus-host disease, a transplant-related complication in which the donor cells recognize…

Results of a recent study suggest that intravenous administration of busulfan in preparation for a stem cell transplant reduces both the frequency and severity of mouth ulcers in myelodysplastic syndromes patients after the transplant.

However, the authors of study pointed out that more studies are needed to confirm their findings.

In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the bone marrow produces stem cells that are unable to properly develop and mature.

The only potentially curative therapy that is currently available is donor (allogeneic) stem cell transplantation. In this procedure, the patient receives bone…

Researchers recently demonstrated that elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia can be safely and effectively treated with the reduced-intensity preparative regimen of IV busulfan-fludarabine before stem cell transplantation.

The researchers added that the regimen was particularly effective for patients whose disease was in complete remission at the time of transplantation.

Based on their findings, the researchers recommended that patients up to the age of 65 years consider reduced-intensity IV busulfan (Busulfex)-fludarabine (Fludara) as preparative regimen, unless they have other serious health issues.

The only curative treatment option…

A long-term study of donor stem cell transplantation using busulfan, cytosine arabinoside, and cyclophosphamide as a preparative regimen in myelodysplastic syndromes patients resulted in durable relapse-free and overall survival.

The researchers also found that donor relation, the age of the patient, and the category of MDS were associated with improved relapse-free survival. 

Based on their findings, they suggested that younger patients with higher-risk disease receive more aggressive treatment, such as the regimen investigated in their study.

Several therapies are available for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients, but donor stem cell transplantation…