Clinical Edge

Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions

Outcomes in Lower-Risk MDS Patients Evaluated

J Clin Oncol; ePub 2017 Mar 28; Park, Hamel, et al

Publish date:

Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) and lenalidomide as second-line treatments did not significantly improve overall survival in patients with certain myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), according to a retrospective cohort study involving nearly 1,700 individuals.

Participants—all of whom had non-del(5q) lower-risk MDS—were being treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). 1,147 patients experienced ESA failure. Primary failure was linked with a higher risk of progressing to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Among patients who received second-line treatment with HMAs (n=194), lenalidomide (n=148), or other treatments (n=108):

  • 5-year AML cumulative incidence was 20% in those receiving HMAs; it was the same in those taking lenalidomide.
  • This incidence was 11% in those receiving other treatments.
  • 5-year overall survival rate for patients receiving HMAs was 37%; in those on lenalidomide or other treatments, it was 42% and 51%, respectively.
  • After adjusting for certain variables, overall survival did not significantly differ in any of the 3 groups.

Citation:

Park S, Hamel J, Toma A, et al. Outcome of lower-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes without 5q deletion after failure of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. [Published online ahead of print March 28, 2017]. J Clin Oncol. doi:10.1200/JCO.2016.71.3271.

This Week's Must Reads