Therapies prior to hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) have no effect on outcomes in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), according to an abstract presented at ASH. In a study of 291 MDS patients (median age 55 years, range: 18-71), there was no difference in event-free survival (EFS) among different pre-HCT therapy groups, including untreated patients. Three-year EFS for chemotherapy, hypomethylating agents, chemo plus hypomethylating agents, and no prior therapy were 31.2%, 31.1%, 31.5%, and 43.4%, respectively (p>0.05). The authors concluded that high-risk MDS patients should be transplanted without delay, because additional therapy to achieve better disease control does not appear to lead to more favorable transplant outcomes.
Prior Therapy Does Not Affect Transplant Outcomes in High-Risk MDS
Dec 2013