Independent, up-to-date news and information for MDS patients and their families.
Headline » News Results from a small study conducted in China suggest that combination therapy with thalidomide and Trisenox is an effective and safe treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes. Patients who received the combination therapy experienced higher response rates and longer survival times than patients who received best supportive care. However, the study investigators indicated that larger-scale studies are needed to confirm the results. Both Thalidomide (Thalomid) and Trisenox (arsenic trioxide) have been previously investigated as potential treatments for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Thalidomide, which is closely related to Revlimid (lenalidomide), has effectively been used in combination with cyclosporine (Sandimmune) to treat MDS (see related Beacon news).… Read the full story » |
FDA Announces Update About Revlimid And Second Cancers – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an extensive update last week regarding the risk of developing a second cancer while being treated with Revlimid (lenalidomide). The FDA conducted an analysis that shows that patients newly diagnosed with the blood cancer multiple myeloma who are treated with long-term Revlimid therapy are nearly three times as likely to develop a second cancer than patients not treated with Revlimid. In the update, the FDA says that it continues to recommend that physicians monitor patients being treated with Revlimid for the development of second cancers, and that physicians take into account both the potential benefit of the drug and the risk of second cancers when considering treating a patient with Revlimid. Revlimid is currently approved for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients who are transfusion-dependent and have a deletion in chromosome 5. It also is approved for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. For more information, please see the full text of the FDA update as well as previous Beacon articles about Revlimid and second cancers.
Onconova Announces Phase 2 Clinical Trial Of Oral Estybon In MDS – Onconova Therapeutics last week announced the start of a Phase 2 clinical trial of its investigational drug Estybon (rigosertib, ON 01910.Na) in MDS. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of the oral formulation of Estybon in reducing the transfusion needs of transfusion-dependent lower-risk MDS patients. Estybon works by inhibiting cell growth and selectively killing cancer cells. The intravenous formulation of Estybon is currently being investigated in a Phase 3 trial for refractory MDS in the U.S. and Europe. For more information about the Phase 2 study, please see the Onconova press release or the clinical trial description.
Living With MDS Conference For Patients And Families – The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF) will hold a free, one-day conference about living with MDS in Atlanta on May 19. Patients and their families are invited to learn about developments in the diagnosis and treatment of MDS from MDS experts. The program will run from 8:30 a.m. till 5 p.m., and a complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, please see the AA&MDSIF website.
In January of the third year after I had been diagnosed with MDS, my husband wanted to plan our annual back packing trip into the Sierras of Northern California.
I realized that it would be difficult for me to carry a 50-pound pack and to hike at 8,000 feet elevation. My mother who is a doctor was very upset that I was even thinking about taking the trip.
Pretending that I was well had been working out for me. I picked up my efforts in the training department, riding my…
Results from a Phase 1 clinical trial suggest that the combination of Telintra and Revlimid may be effective and safe in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients.
The study investigators found that the combination of Telintra and Revlimid promoted the growth of new blood cells. In addition, several patients who were previously dependent on red blood cell transfusions became transfusion-independent after therapy.
Based on their findings, the investigators conclude that the combination should be further investigated in clinical trials.
“The determination of the optimal doses for the Telintra/Revlimid combination in this Phase…
Results from a European study demonstrate that Exjade, a treatment for excess iron, may improve blood cell counts and reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions in myelodysplastic syndromes patients.
However, the study investigators point out that further prospective, randomized trials are necessary to confirm these findings.
Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) frequently have low red blood cell counts. One of the standard treatment options for low counts is red blood cell transfusions. However, according to the European researchers, increased transfusion use has been linked with decreased survival. Long-term…
Dr. Nikolaus Kroeger, a German myelodysplastic syndromes expert, recently published a review of previous research to assess whether stem cell transplantation is feasible in elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. He came to the conclusion that the procedure is safe and has curative potential for this patient population.
Donor, or allogeneic, stem cell transplantation is currently the only treatment available that may cure patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In this procedure, MDS patients receive stem cells from a healthy donor to replenish their own stem cells, which are destroyed prior the…
