A combination therapy of Vidaza (azacitidine) and valproic acid (Depakene) may be more effective than Vidaza alone for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), according to a Phase 2 study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Valproic acid is commonly used to reduce seizures in epilepsy patients and to treat bipolar disorder. It has recently become of interest as a possible treatment for blood- and bone marrow-related cancers like MDS.

Previous studies have shown that two classes of drugs, hypomethylating agents, which include Vidaza, and histone deacetylase inhibitors, which…

Researchers have published results of a clinical study examining a five-day intravenous (IV) dosing regimen for Vidaza (azacitidine), a common treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

The researchers, based at Washington University in St. Louis, find that a five-day IV regimen yielded response rates and response durations similar to those reported for the standard seven-day subcutaneous Vidaza dosing regimen. At the same time, overall survival times for the five-day regimen were lower than observed in studies using the standard regimen.

Vidaza is typically administered by two or three subcutaneous injections each…

A Phase 3 study completed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group shows that lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with anemia benefit from erythropoietin (EPO) treatments plus supportive care to increase their red blood cell counts, compared to patients who receive supportive care alone. The benefits are even higher when EPO is combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

EPO belongs to the group of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), which help to increase the red blood cell count in MDS patients who have MDS-related anemia. Sometimes when patients do not respond…

A new study summarizes results from a review of previous published research into the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with the hypomethylating agents Vidaza (azacitidine) and Dacogen (decitabine).  The study finds that treatment with the hypomethylating agents produces longer overall survival than conventional care.  This survival benefit, however, comes with a greater risk of serious treatment side effects.

Selected results from the new study, by a team from Tel Aviv University in Israel, were presented this summer at the European Hematology Association 14th Congress in…

A newly published research review concludes that smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).  The review also examines the potential impact of alcohol consumption on developing MDS, but finds no conclusive link between the two.

The review, carried out by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Amgen, the Cleveland Clinic, and SUNY Downstate, is a meta-analysis of data from ten independent studies carried out in Japan, Europe, and the United States.  The authors of the new review statistically combine the data from the ten previous…