Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Research

Hematologists at Mayo Clinic currently have an active research program dedicated to understanding myelodysplastic syndromes in the hope of improving treatments. The myeloid disease group at Mayo Clinic includes basic scientists and clinicians. Because current MDS treatments are unable to cure the disease, Mayo researchers are committed to evaluating new drug therapies. Research efforts include on-site efforts, an ongoing collaboration with the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and cooperation with researchers at other institutions.

Drugs that appear promising in the laboratory and are expected to be relatively safe are tested in clinical trials through the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. The available list of clinical trials constantly changes.

Decisions about participating in a clinical trial, supportive care or other therapy depends on individual circumstances and needs. Mayo Clinic hematologists provide in-depth consultations to help each patient make the best decisions for treatment.

Selected Publications

Steensma DP, Higgs DR, Fisher CA, Gibbons RJ. Acquired somatic ATRX mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome associated with {alpha} thalassemia (ATMDS) convey a more severe hematologic phenotype than germline ATRX mutations. Blood. 2004 Mar 15;103(6):2019-2026. Epub 2003 Oct 30. [Abstract]

Mesa RA, Steensma DP, Hoyer J, Ketterling RP. Concomitant myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myeloid leukaemia: treatment outcomes with imatinib mesylate.Br J Haematol. 2003 Oct;123(2):366-7. [No Abstract Available]

Steensma DP, Mesa RA, Reeder TL, Tefferi A, Kaufmann SH. Effects of the MEK inhibitor CI-1040 (PD 184352) on progenitor growth from normal and myelodysplastic marrow. Haematologica. 2003 Sep;88(9):1072-4. [No abstract available]

Maziarz RT, Mesa RA, Ayalew T: Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders and Myelodysplastic Syndromes: The Question Is When? Mayo Clinic Proc. Aug 2003;78(8):941-43. View PDF of article.

Steensma DP, Dispenzieri A, Moore SB, Schroeder G, Tefferi A Antithymocyte globulin has limited efficacy and substantial toxicity in unselected anemic patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood. 2003 Mar 15;101(6):2156-8. Epub 2002 Oct 31. [Abstract]

Steensma DP, Tefferi A. The myelodysplastic syndrome(s): a perspective and review highlighting current controversies. Leuk Res. 2003 Feb;27(2):95-120. Review. [Abstract]

Moreno-Aspitia A, Geyer S, Li C-Y, Tefferi A, Witzig T, Niedrinhaus RD, Vukov AM, Morton R, Fitch T, Addo FE, Dakhil SR, Tschetter L, Colon-Otero G. N998B: Multicenter phase II trial of thalidomide (Thal) in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). (Abstract 354). Blood 100(11):96a, 2002, November 16.

Ketterling RP, Wyatt WA, VanWier SA, Law M, Hodnefield JM, Hanson CA, Dewald GW. Primary myelodysplastic syndrome with normal cytogenetics: utility of 'FISH panel testing' and M-FISH. Leuk Res. 2002 Mar;26(3):235-40. [Abstract]

Steensma DP, Hanson CA, Letendre L, Tefferi A.Myelodysplasia with fibrosis: a distinct entity? Leuk Res. 2001 Oct;25(10):829-38. [No Abstract Available]

Tefferi A, Elliott MA, Steensma DP, Hook CC, Dispenzieria A, Hanson CA, Schroeder G, Letendre L. Amifostine alone and in combination with erythropoietin for the treatment of favorable myelodysplastic syndrome. Leuk Res. 2001 Feb;25(2):183-5. [Abstract]

Colon-Otero G, Moreno A, Tefferi A. A critical review of new treatments for the myelodysplastic syndromes. Cancer Research, Therapy & Control 1999; 9(3-4):281-88.

Mongkonsritragoon W, Letendre L, Qian J, Li CY. Nodular lesions of monocytic component in myelodysplastic syndrome. Am J Clin Pathol. 1998 Aug;110(2):154-62. [Abstract]

Kurtin PJ, Dewald GW, Shields DJ, Hanson CA. Hematologic disorders associated with deletions of chromosome 20q: a clinicopathologic study of 107 patients. Am J Clin Pathol. 1996 Nov;106(5):680-8. [Abstract]