Optimizing the use of hypomethylating agents in MDS: Selecting the candidate, predicting the response and enhancing the activityOptimizing HMAs in MDS

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders that have substantial impact on patients ’ quality of life, in addition to causing significant morbidity and mortality. The hypomethylating agents (HMAs) azacitidine and decitabine are approved for use in the United States and in Europe for the treatment of MDS or acute myeloid leukemia and, in the case of azacitidine, prolong survival i n higher-risk patients. Neither is curative, though, and given the lack of clear treatment guidelines after HMA treatment failure, it is imperative to optimize patient selection and identify the right timing of HMA treatment initiation and response evaluation to maximize patient benefit.
Source: Seminars in Hematology - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research