What is the optimal time to initiate hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in higher risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs)?
Leuk Lymphoma 2021;
62:2762-2767. [PMID:
34114922 DOI:
10.1080/10428194.2021.1938028]
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Abstract
Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are the standard of care for higher risk MDS (HR-MDS) patients. The current dogma is to begin HMA therapy in all HR-MDS patients at the time of initial diagnosis. We investigated the impact of the timing of HMA initiation among HR-MDS patients presenting with adequate blood counts to discern the possible benefit of early treatment based solely on disease risk. We identified 320 HR-MDS patients with adequate hematopoiesis who were treated with HMA. The complete response rates were 21%, 26%, 23%, and 7% respectively for patients treated within 30, 31-60, 61-90, and more than 90 days from time of diagnosis (p=.046). The median OS from the date of diagnosis was 641, 550, 979, and 806 days, respectively (p=.2). A delay in initiating HMA therapy in HR-MDS patients with adequate blood counts is not associated with worsened outcomes.
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