Supportive Care and Hematologic Malignancies: Updates from the 2007 American Society of Hematology
C. Dean Buckner, MD, Founding Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Myelodysplastic Syndrome: An Update from ASCO 2007
Hagop Kantarjian, MD, Chairman and Professor, Leukemia Department, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Advances in the Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Report from the 2006 American Society of Hematology Meeting
Hagop Kantarjian, MD, Chairman and Professor, Leukemia Department, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Treating Malignant Disease With Reduced Intensity Stem Cell Transplants - A Review

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Is a Reasonable Option for Older Patients with MDS (1/13/2010)
Researchers affiliated with the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) have reported that approximately one-third of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over the age of 50 years become long-term survivors following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on December 14, 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Umbilical Cord Blood Transplants Successful in Children with MDS (11/24/2009)
Researchers from Duke University have reported that unrelated umbilical cord blood transplants for myelodysplastic syndrome in children result in a three-year event-free survival of 61%. The details of this study appeared in the August 2009 issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

131I-Anti-CD45 Antibody, Fludara®, and Low-dose TBI Is an Effective Transplant Regimen for Patients with Advanced AML or MDS (11/23/2009)
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported that a reduced allogeneic stem cell transplant regimen consisting of 131I-anti-CD45 antibody, Fludara® (fludarabine), and low-dose total body irradiation results in a one-year survival of 41% in elderly patients with advanced acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The details of this study appeared early online on September 28, 2009 in Blood.

Pomalidomide Active for Treatment of Anemia of Myelofibrosis (8/21/2009)
Researchers involved in an international trial have reported that pomalidomide is active for the treatment of anemia associated with myelofibrosis. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on August 3, 2009.

Weight-based Dose Escalation of Aranesp® May Improve Responses in Patients with Low- and Intermediate-risk MDS (3/13/2009)
Researchers from Stanford University have reported that an intra-patient weight-based dose escalation scheme of Aranesp® (darbepoetin) may improve responses in patients with low and intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The details of this study appeared in the January 2009 issue of the American Journal of Hematology.