Treatment Options for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for this treatment section. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Standard Treatment Options for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Standard treatment options for myelodysplastic syndromes include:

• Supportive care with one or more of the following:
  • Transfusion therapy.
  • Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.
  • Antibiotic therapy.
• Treatments to slow progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML):
  • Lenalidomide.
  • Immunosuppressive therapy.
  • Azacitidine and decitabine.
  • Chemotherapy used in acute myeloid leukemia.
• Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.

Treatment of Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasms

Patients who were treated in the past with chemotherapy or radiation therapy may develop myeloid neoplasms related to that therapy. Treatment options are the same as for other myelodysplastic syndromes.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with adult myelodysplastic syndromes. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.