The MDS Beacon™

A recent study suggests that Vidaza is effective and safe in both lower- and higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients 75 years of age or older. Vidaza administered for five consecutive days was found to be the preferred dosing schedule for elderly patients.

These findings were presented at the 15th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in Barcelona, Spain, last month.

Previous studies have shown that Vidaza (azacitidine) improves overall survival in higher-risk elderly myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients (see related Beacon news article). However, little is known about Vidaza’s efficacy…

Results from a recent study suggest that treatment with Vidaza or Dacogen is effective for myelodysplastic syndromes patients before they receive donor stem cell transplants. Researchers from South Korea presented these findings at the 2010 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress.

Stem cell transplantation in which abnormal bone marrow is replaced with healthy donor marrow is the only therapy known to cure myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Vidaza (azacitidine) and Dacogen (decitabine), similar types of drugs that both suppress MDS, can be used to reduce the number of diseased blood cells in the…

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes who also have impaired kidney function can be treated with Vidaza or Dacogen, although dose adjustments will be needed in some cases, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Elderly patients, the population most affected by myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), frequently experience impaired kidney function. Vidaza (azacitidine) and Dacogen (decitabine) are the two standard drugs used for patients with MDS, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

In their study, the researchers investigated the effects of Vidaza and…

Italian researchers have found that elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), who also have other diseases, can achieve the same response as patients without other diseases and do not experience additional side effects while receiving Vidaza (azacitidine) treatment. These results were presented at the 2010 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

MDS is a disease that mainly afflicts older patients who frequently already have other diseases. Recent clinical trials have shown that Vidaza is safe and effective in MDS patients of all ages and improves survival in elderly…

The 15^th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) was held June 10 to 13 in Barcelona, Spain. Hematologists specializing in medicine and scientific research gathered to share developments in the field of hematology (blood and blood-related diseases). 

Due to the broad number of interests and studies, the congress was divided into different sessions over the course of the four days. It included education sessions and workshops, poster sessions, and presentations about the latest hematologic studies and developments.

The congress featured numerous abstracts and presentations relating to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).…

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 shown that Vidaza significantly prolongs overall survival in higher-risk MDS…

Several important myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) studies were presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting on June 7. The meeting was held June 4 to 8 in Chicago.

Monday, June 7

As part of Monday’s morning session about leukemia, myelodysplasia, and transplantation, two important studies were presented and then discussed.

The first study, which looked at Vidaza (azacitidine) treatment in high-risk patients, was presented by Dr. Alan List of the Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. The results showed that Vidaza significantly prolongs overall…

Results from several important studies about myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) were presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting June 4 to 8. No MDS sessions were held on the first or last day of the conference. Presentations from June 5 and 6 are summarized below, and presentations from June 7 will be summarized in a later Beacon article.

Saturday, June 5

During a poster session held on Saturday morning, researchers presented 16 MDS studies in the format of posters. Boards throughout the hall were filled with…

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 from multiplying.

The trial results presented at the ASCO meeting…