Key Advances in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of MDS

Moderator Rami Komrokji, MD, introduces the panel and invites expert pathologist Sanam Loghavi, MD to lead a discussion on the typical patient presentation and diagnostic process in MDS, which was recently renamed as ‘myelodysplastic neoplasms’ in the 2022 5th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of the disease state.

Uwe Platzbecker, MD introduces models commonly used to determine risk status and prognosis, and inform treatment decisions, for patients with MDS.

A focused discussion on best practices for MDS pathology and risk status reporting in both community and academic center settings.

Thomas Cluzeau, MD, PhD provides an overview of first-line treatment options for symptomatic anemia in patients with lower-risk MDS, followed by a discussion of panelists’ treatment patterns and dosing strategies across the globe.

Dr Platzbecker outlines available second-line therapies for symptomatic anemia in patients with lower-risk MDS, highlighting differences in availability between the United States and Europe.

Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD presents a case of lower-risk MDS with chromosome 5q and 20q deletions and a p53 mutation, and discusses first- and second-line treatment selection.

Expert panelists reflect on the case presented by Dr Garcia-Manero and share their unique perspectives on how they might have approached treatment and followup for this patient in their own practice.

Dr Komrokji leads a discussion on emerging data on how p53 mutations and chromosome 5q deletions may affect prognosis, treatment response, and outcomes for patients with MDS.

Dr Cluzeau introduces a second patient case of lower-risk MDS-RS with an SF3B1 mutation and symptomatic anemia, who received a first-line erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) and second-line luspatercept.

The panelists discuss Dr Cluzeau’s presented case, emphasizing the importance of pathology reporting, and expand upon approaches to second-line treatment selection for patients with MDS-RS.

Dr Komrokji presents key data updates from the MEDALIST trial on luspatercept in patients with lower-risk MDS that were presented at the 2022 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress and the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting.

Experts summarize recent updates on other approved or emerging second-line therapies for lower-risk MDS.

The panel turns their focus to higher-risk MDS, starting with a discussion of first- and second-line treatment options, followed by a third and final case presentation and discussion led by Dr Platzbecker.

The panelists touch on emerging data in the higher-risk MDS space, including updates presented at ASH 2022.

A brief discussion centered on MDS/MPN-RS-T overlap syndromes, considerations for diagnosis, available treatment options, and updates in the space.

Experts close by summarizing key advances and remaining unmet needs across all MDS risk groups, and share their hopes for the future.