Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are a group of diverse bone marrow disorders where the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells, resulting in a shortage of healthy blood cells. MDS is often referred to as a “bone marrow failure disorder”. 

Unlike other cancers, MDS is not staged by how much cancer is in the body or if the cancer has spread.  Rather, factors such as age, blood count, and changes to the bone marrow cells are used to give MDS a score. This score can help tell how likely cancer is to spread or how it should be treated.

Stem cell transplant (SCT) – SCT currently offers the only realistic chance to cure myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), although many patients with MDS might not be eligible for this treatment. As part of this treatment,  patients receive high-dose chemotherapy and/or total body irradiation to kill the cells in the bone marrow (including the abnormal bone marrow cells). The patient is then given new blood-forming stem cells from a donor. 

Chemotherapy –Chemo can be taken as a pill or given as an infusion through the vein. Chemo is given in cycles or rounds, where each round of treatment is followed by a break.  

Immune treatments – There are several types of immune treatments that can be used to treat MDS. Drugs can be given as an infusion through the vein, as a shot, or taken as pills. 

Clinical trials are designed to find new and better ways to prevent, screen for, or treat disease. MDS clinical trials are research studies for humans that are designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new approaches or treatments specifically for MDS. They are one way to get access to the newest, yet- to-be-approved cancer treatments. 

Many clinical trials for myelodysplastic syndrome that are currently taking place focus on the best ways to reduce symptoms and side effects for patients with MDS. The goal for researchers is to begin to move medicine forward and thus, make important changes to the way we treat MDS.

If you or a loved one needs assistance in finding MDS current trials available, our clinical team will be happy to assist you.