The American Society of Clinical Oncology 2008: Highlights of Treatment of Hematological Malignancies 01/30/2009
The 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held in Chicago, Illinois, again revealed advances in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Patients with chronic or acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders continue to be presented with novel, effective options for the treatment of their ...

New Risk Model for MDS Applies to All Stages of Disease 12/31/2008
A new risk model for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) provides survival projections for all stages of the disease and has proven superior to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) that has been traditionally used. The results of this study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of ...

Older Age Does Not Affect Survival in Patients with AML or MDS Who Undergo Mini-transplants 12/30/2008
Age should not be a barrier for non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), according to the results of a study presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology on December 7, 2008 in San Francisco, ...

Supportive Care and Hematologic Malignancies 01/21/2008
IntroductionAt the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) the most interesting supportive care studies involved second generation thrombopoetin-like agents that should ultimately improve the treatment of thrombocytopenia.ThrombocytopeniaThrombocytopenia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignancy. Thrombopoetin (TPO) or ...

Updates in the Management of Myelodysplastic Syndromes 01/21/2008
 IntroductionCytopenias – The Double-Edged SwordHypomethylating Agents – Living the Good LifeImmunomodulatory Agents Extend Their ApplicabilityConclusionsIntroductionThe myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a ...

Vidaza® Improves Survival in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 08/06/2007
According to a press release by Pharmion, Vidaza™ (azacitidine) significantly improves survival compared with conventional care in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes.Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood (hematologic) disorders that are diagnosed in 10,000 to 20,000 individuals annually in the U.S. MDS occurs when immature blood cells ...

Dacogen™ Has Significant Activity in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia 02/09/2007
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, Dacogen™ (decitabine) provides significant anticancer activity in the treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is considered to be a separate clinical entity, but possesses features of both myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative disorders. CMML is a type ...

Mylotarg® and Vidaza® Effective for Elderly Patients with AML or MDS 01/05/2007
Researchers from Loyola University have reported that the combination of Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) and Vidaza® (azacitidine) produces a high rate of response in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The details of this study were presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Society ...

Gleevec® Receives Expanded Approval 10/31/2006
Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for five new uses. This approval will allow Gleevec to be used to treat a broader range of disorders. Previously, Gleevec was approved for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as well as ...

Revlimid® Effective for Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes with 5q31 Deletion 10/05/2006
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the agent Revlimid® (lenalidomide) is effective for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with the 5q31 deletion. Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of blood (hematologic) disorders that are diagnosed in 10,000 to 20,000 individuals annually ...

Vidaza® Effective for High-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes 08/28/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the agent Vidaza® (azacitidine) is effective for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) that has occurred from MDS. Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of blood (hematologic) disorders that are diagnosed in 10,000 to ...

Revlimid® Shows Promise in Treatment of Myelofibrosis with Myeloid Metaplasia 08/11/2006
According to the results of two phase II clinical trials published in the journal Blood, treatment with Revlimid® (lenalidomide) produces promising results in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). MMM is characterized by bone marrow dysfunction and enlargement of the spleen. It can ultimately lead to acute leukemia. Treatment ...

Aranesp® Effectively Treats Anemia in Patients with Low-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome 06/09/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) administered every three weeks increases red blood cell counts in patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of diseases marked by abnormal production of blood cells ...

Further Evidence that Vidaza® Reduces Need for Transfusions in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 06/08/2006
According to results recently presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), further evaluation of data demonstrates that the agent Vidaza® (azacitadine) reduces the need for red blood cell and platelet transfusions in a significant portion of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes ...

Aranesp® Effective for Treating Anemia Associated with “Low-Risk” MDS 05/15/2006
According to an article published in the British Journal of Haematology, Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) is effective in treating anemia in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases involving the bone marrow. MDS results in inadequate production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and ...

Dacogen™ Approved for Myelodysplastic Syndromes 05/04/2006
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the agent Dacogen™ (decitabine) for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of blood (hematologic) disorders that are diagnosed in 10,000 to 20,000 individuals annually in the U.S. MDS occurs when immature blood cells ...

Continued Treatment with Dacogen™ May Be Superior to Retreatment in MDS 03/14/2006
According to results published in an early online edition of the journal Cancer, retreatment with Dacogen™ (decitabine) upon disease progression provides significant anticancer responses. However, responses when disease has progressed are less favorable than initial responses with decitabine. Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of blood (hematologic) disorders that are diagnosed ...

Decitabine Improves Outcomes in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 03/14/2006
According to results from an early online publication in the journal Cancer, Dacogen™ (decitabine) improves outcomes compared with supportive care only in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of blood (hematologic) disorders that are diagnosed in 10,000–20,000 individuals annually in the US. MDS occurs when immature ...

Topotecan/Cytarabine Regimen May Be Effective Alternative for MDS 02/22/2006
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination consisting of topotecan (Hycamtin®) and cytarabine (Ara-C®) appears to be effective in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. This combination may also offer a safe alternative to standard anthracycline-containing regimens, particularly for the elderly with this disease. Myelodysplastic ...

Revlimid® Approved for Myelodysplastic Syndromes 12/28/2005
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Revlimid® (lenalidomide) for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The indication for the approval includes patients who are considered transfusion-dependent with low or intermediate-1 risk MDS that has a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality. Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of ...

Aranesp® Effective in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 12/02/2005
According to a recent article published in the Annals of Oncology, Aranesp (darbepoetin afla) is effective in the treatment of anemia in patients with low or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. As well, it improves quality of life in these patients. Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases involving the bone marrow. ...

Revlimid® Shows Promise for Myelodysplastic Syndromes 05/23/2005
At a recent presentation at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers revealed that the drug Revlimid is highly effective in the treatment of transfusion-dependent myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). MDS is a group of disorders that are characterized by a low blood count that is due ...

Re-Treatment with Dacogen™ Provides Activity in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 05/04/2005
According to interim results presented at the 46th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), re-treatment with the agent Dacogen™ (decitabine) provides anti-cancer activity in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. MDS is a disease in which the cells in a person's bone marrow are not functioning normally. The bone ...

Dacogen™ Effective in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 04/27/2005
According to results presented at the 46th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the agent Dacogen™ (decitabine) appears to provide promising anti-cancer activity in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). MDS is a disease in which the cells in a person's bone marrow are not functioning normally. ...

New Drug Application Has Been Filed for Revlimid™ 04/22/2005
A New Drug Application (NDA) has recently been filed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the agent Revlimid™ for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.[1] The application includes patients who are transfusion dependent and have a genetic abnormality called a 1q ...

Revlimid™ Effective for Low-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes 02/24/2005
According to a recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the agent Revlimid™ (lenalidomide, CC5013) appears to be effective treatment in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. MDS is a disease in which the cells in a person's bone marrow are not functioning normally. The bone marrow (and circulating ...

Vidaza™ Approved for Myelodysplastic Syndromes 01/13/2005
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Vidaza™ (azacitadine) for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Vidaza™ is the first agent to ever be approved for the treatment of MDS. MDS is a disease in which the cells in a person's bone marrow are not functioning normally. The bone ...

Data Indicates Optimal Timing for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Myelodysplatic Syndromes 07/21/2004
According to results recently published in the journal Blood, the optimal timing of allogeneic stem cell transplantation for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes varies, depending upon specific characteristics of the cancer and patient. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disease in which the cells in a person's bone marrow are not functioning ...

"Mini" Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Offer Elderly with AML or MDS a Chance of Cure 04/30/2003
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, "mini" allogeneic stem cell transplants may provide a chance for a cure for patients over 60 years of age with poor-prognosis myeloid (blood) malignancies. High-dose chemotherapy tends to kill more cancer cells than conventional chemotherapy. However, the ...

Umbilical Cord Transplant May Be Effective Treatment Option for Some Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes 03/13/2003
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, an umbilical cord transplant may be an effective treatment option for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome that are not able to find a suitable donor for an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disease in which the ...

Addition of Thalidomide Not Effective in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndromes 02/28/2003
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, thalidomide does not appear to provide any anti-cancer activity in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid uncontrolled abnormal growth of ...

Prolonged Erythropoietin Appears More Effective Than Short Course for Myelodysplastic Syndrome 07/18/2002
According to a recent article published in the British Journal of Haematology, prolonged administration of erythropoietin may provide better results compared to shorter courses in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. A myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disease in which the cells in a person’s bone marrow are not functioning ...

Reduction of Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Mini-Transplants: National Institutes of Health Clinical Trial Enrolling Patients 06/11/2002
The National Institutes of Health is currently recruiting patients for a clinical trial to evaluate a novel approach in reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease in elderly patients with certain hematological (blood) malignancies who are to undergo a “mini” allogeneic stem cell transplant. Many patients with certain hematological malignancies ...

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act 05/13/2002
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act in conjunction with Blood Cancer Advocacy Day. The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act will amend the Public Health Service Act to provide research, information and education about blood cancers. Blood cancers include ...

Sperm Banking Only Offered to Half of Young Male Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy 04/24/2002
According to two recent articles published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, only half of young male patients who are to undergo treatment for cancer are offered the option of sperm banking prior to therapy. Treatment of cancer is associated with many side effects, with specific agents or treatment ...

St. John’s Wort May Reduce Efficacy of Camptosar® 04/16/2002
According to results recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, the herbal medicine St. Johns wort may reduce the efficacy of the chemotherapy agent Camptosar® when taken together. Camptosar® (irinotecan, CPT-11) is a commonly used chemotherapy agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer ...

Mortality from Some Cancer Surgeries Reduced in Large-Volume Hospitals 04/15/2002
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, death related to surgical procedures (surgical mortality) for some cancers may be significantly reduced if patients receive treatment in hospitals that perform large volumes of the surgical procedure annually. The surgical removal of cancer is ...

ATRA plus EPO Effective for MDS 03/28/2002
According to results recently published in the journal Blood, the treatment combination of all-trans retinoic acid plus erythropoietin appears to be an effective and well tolerated treatment option for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. A myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disease in which the cells in a person’s bone marrow ...

Cyclosporin A Reduces Anthracycline Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/21/2002
Results recently published in the journal Blood suggest that Cyclosporine A reduces resistance to anthracycline-based chemotherapy agents in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by uncontrolled growth of immature white blood cells known as myelocytes. Although ...

Thalidomide Promising for Myelodysplastic Syndromes 02/21/2002
Results recently published in the British Journal of Haematology suggest that thalidomide appears to be an effective treatment option for certain patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. A myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disease in which the cells in a person’s bone marrow are not functioning normally. The bone marrow (and ...

Pilot Study Indicates Neumega® Produces Responses In Myelodysplastic Syndrome 02/21/2002
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, preliminary research suggests that low-dose Neumega® is well-tolerated and active for certain patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. A myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a disease in which the cells in a person’s bone marrow are not functioning normally. The ...

Autologous Stem Cell Transplants Prove Promising in Myelodysplastic Syndromes 02/21/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, autologous stem cell transplants appear promising for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myelogenous leukemia secondary to a myelodysplastic syndrome. A myelodysplastic syndrome is a disease in which the cells in a person’s bone marrow are not functioning ...

Thalidomide Effective for Myelodysplastic Syndrome 02/21/2002
Thalidomide appears to be effective in eliminating or reducing transfusions for certain patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, according to a recent article published in the journal Blood. A myelodysplastic syndrome is a disease in which the cells in a person’s bone marrow are not functioning normally. The bone marrow (and ...

Anti-Inflammatory Drug Combination Appears to Improve Blood Counts for Persons with Myelodysplastic Syndrome 02/21/2002
A myelodysplastic syndrome is a disease of the bone marrow that eventually progresses into leukemia, a type of cancer. While 1 curative option for myelodysplastic syndrome is a procedure called a stem cell transplantation, not all persons are able to tolerate the potentially life-threatening complications that can occur ...

Low-Dose Decitabine Produces Improved Blood Counts in Some Elderly Persons with Myelodysplastic Syndrome 02/21/2002
Researchers from Europe report that there may be a new treatment option for elderly persons and others who cannot tolerate the side effects of the potentially curative regimen of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. A recent study shows that a drug, called decitabine, produces improved blood counts ...

Treatment with Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Appears to Cure Some Persons with Treatment-Caused Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Leukemia 02/21/2002
Undergoing an allogeneic stem cell transplant may offer hope to persons who develop myelodysplastic syndromes or leukemia as the result of previous treatment for cancer. A group of researchers now say that this procedure may offer a chance for cure for some persons who develop these serious side ...

Erythropoietin Plus Granulocyte Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor for Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndrome 02/21/2002
A myelodysplastic syndrome is a disease of the bone marrow that eventually progresses into leukemia, a type of cancer. While 1 curative option for myelodysplastic syndromes is a procedure called a stem cell transplantation, not all persons are able to tolerate the potentially life-threatening complications that can occur ...

Stem Cell Transplant May Be Successful for Older Persons with Myelodysplastic Syndromes 02/21/2002
A procedure called a stem cell transplantation is a curative option for a significant number of young persons with myelodysplastic syndrome, a condition that develops into leukemia. Because a stem cell transplantation (SCT) carries with it substantial risks, older persons, who are more likely to suffer life-threatening complications ...

Aggressive Chemotherapy Increases Remission in Patients with High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome 02/21/2002
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases characterized by an inability to produce new blood cells. Myelodysplasia is sometimes referred to as pre-leukemia because myelodysplastic syndromes begin in the bone marrow stem cells and eventually progress to acute leukemia. The myelodysplastic syndromes are really several different diseases, each with ...

Treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute leukemia developing from myelodysplastic syndrome with autologous stem cell transplantation appears promising. (Blood, Volume 90, No 10, pp 02/21/2002
Myelodysplasia is a disease of the blood-producing stem cell, which resides in the bone marrow and is responsible for the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When myelodysplasia occurs, blood-producing stem cells become ineffective at generating or producing new blood cells. Progression and production ...

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is curative treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. (Blood, Volume 82, No 2, pp 677-681, 1993) 02/21/2002
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases characterized by ineffective blood cell production. This is because the hematopoietic stem cell, which is responsible for the production of all blood cells, is affected with the disease. Treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome has been supportive, and standard therapies are not curative. ...