This report outlines the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) trial to compare outcomes of reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in high-risk patients, 50-75 years of age, with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with outcomes in patients with similar risk receiving novel nontransplant therapies such as hypomethylating agents. The study, BMT CTN 1102, received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and therefore costs of allogeneic HCT for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled onto this study will be covered. The authors note that if the study demonstrates survival advantage with allogeneic HCT, it will have significant practice and economic implications, including future coverage of costs of allogeneic HCT for MDS by the CMS for all Medicare beneficiaries.
Saber W, et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant