Clinical Implications of Recent Data in MDS

EP: 1.Current Treatment Landscape for Patients with Lower-Risk MDS

EP: 2.MDS: Transfusion Independence Across Different Risk Subgroups in IMerge Phase 3 Trial

EP: 3.Impact of Mutational Status on Response in IMerge Phase 3 Study in MDS

EP: 4.Durable Transfusion Independence in Lower-Risk MDS

EP: 5.MDS: Patient-Reported Outcomes and Imetelstat Toxicity in IMerge Phase 3 Trial

EP: 6.Biomarker Analysis and Patient-Reported Outcomes from COMMANDS Study in MDS

EP: 7.MDS: Canakinumab Phase 1b/2 Study

Now Viewing

EP: 8.Clinical Implications of Recent Data in MDS

This is a video synopsis of a discussion featuring Gary J. Schiller, MD, chief of the Hematological Malignancy/Stem Cell Transplantation program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Based on ASH presentations and literature, luspatercept offers advantages over erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for lower risk, transfusion-dependent MDS and symptomatic anemia, with higher response rates. For ESA-refractory patients, the telomerase inhibitor imetelstat induces transfusion independence in a minority but significantly more than placebo. This correlates with improved symptoms per quality-of-life scores.

However, it is unclear if imetelstat improves symptoms without directly alleviating anemia. Since inflammatory biomarker data from the phase 3 IMerge trial was not presented, effects attributable to decreased inflammation are speculative.

Early trials targeting the inflammasome to reduce inflammation integral to MDS and impaired erythropoiesis show promise. The anti-inflammatory agent canakinumab decreased a biomarker of inflammation but clinical responses are not yet seen. Further inflammation-directed trials are awaited to determine if targeting this pathway can improve anemia and related symptoms in lower risk MDS.

*Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by Targeted Oncology editorial staff.