How to Treat MDS without Stem Cell Transplantation

Although allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only proven curative treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), it is only used to treat a minority of MDS patients. The majority of patients are too old or suffer from comorbidities rendering allogeneic HCT too risky. Alternative treatment strategies for patients with higher risk MDS try to alter the natural course of disease by preventing or delaying leukemic transformation. In patients with lower risk MDS, treatment is mainly focused on maintaining or improving the quality of life.