Therapy (MDS)
There are few residual non-clonal cells in MDS - so myeloablative therapy is the only treatment option with a realistic chance of cure.
In adults differentiating agents, low dose chemotherapy, hormones and amifostine have been used without any evidence of significant benefit.
Immunosuppressive therapy can be effective in some adults with MDS and low blast cell counts.
Conventional high dose chemotherapy without HSCT is unlikely to eradicate the cells involved in MDS.
Allogenic HSCT is the treatment of choice for most children with MDS.
Preparative regimes with busulphan, cyclophosphamide and melphalan appear to be equivalent to busulphan and TBI regimes.
Intensive prophylaxis for graft versus host disease (GvHD) is associated with an increased risk of relapse.
Link:
Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Treatment options at the National Cancer Institute
