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The broad spectrum of myelodysplastic syndrome

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous spectrum of hematopoietic disorders for which allogeneic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative option. However, a better understanding of epigenetics, immune responses, and the use of next-generation sequencing has led to advances in our characterization and treatment of MDS. Ellen Ritchie, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine, joins OncLive in a discussion on the current best practices in the management of MDS and how the latest research is likely to impact the field. 

"I think it’s very important when we talk to patients about MDS that we talk about the broad spectrum of disease and that we don’t label it as cancer necessarily. Because I think that it can almost be as detrimental to their quality of life with the disease afterward, by labeling it as such, than the treatments and supportive care that we have to give them."