title: NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: These suggested practice guidelines are based on extensive evaluation of the reviewed risk-based data and indicate useful current approaches for managing patients with MDS. Four drugs have recently been approved by the FDA for treating specific subtypes of MDS: lenalidomide for MDS patients with del(5q) cytogenetic abnormalities; azacytidine and decitabine for treating patients with higher-risk or nonresponsive MDS; and deferasirox for iron chelation of iron overloaded patients with MDS. However, because a substantial proportion of patient subsets with MDS lack effective treatment for their cytopenias or for altering disease natural history, clinical trials with these and other novel therapeutic agents along with supportive care remain the hallmark of management for this disease. The role of thrombopoietic cytokines for management of thrombocytopenia in MDS needs further evaluation. In addition, further determination of the effects of these therapeutic interventions on the patient's quality of life is important.(116,119,120,128,129) Progress toward improving management of MDS has occurred over the past few years, and more advances are anticipated using these guidelines as a framework for coordination of comparative clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center , USA.
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Attar
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Clara D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: De Castro
authors.forename: H Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Deeg
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Foran
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gaensler
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garcia-Manero
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komrokji
authors.forename: Lori J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Maness
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Millenson
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Nimer
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shami
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Westervelt
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*