title: Novel therapies for myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The assessment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and the choice of therapies remain challenging. New therapies are now emerging after the identification of molecular targets that result in improvement of hematologic parameters and may hold promise for the prevention of disease progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the English literature was performed that included original articles and related reviews from MEDLINE (PubMed) and abstracts based on published meeting material.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDS is a heterogeneous group of disorders. Although current classification and prognostic schemes have proven valid to define subgroups, they are insufficient to take into consideration the significant biologic diversity of MDS. New molecular targets are identified as the mosaic of pathophysiologic pathways in MDS is being unraveled. Novel and targeted therapeutic agents, such as the inhibition of farnesyl transferases and receptor tyrosine kinases, more potent thalidomide analogs, and arsenic trioxide, have shown encouraging results and may offer durable benefit to patients with MDS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although progress has been made in the understanding of clinical manifestations and some of the molecular pathways underlying ineffective hematopoiesis and leukemic transformation in MDS, intensive clinical and laboratory research continues to 1) identify further relevant pathophysiologic pathways, 2) better define MDS subgroups, and 3) develop new drugs based on a clearer understanding of disease biology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. sfaderl@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faderl
authors.forename: Hagop M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome