NewYork-Presbyterian. The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell.

Cancer (Oncology)

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

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About Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The Syndromes

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) is a group of diseases in which the body does not make enough red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood-clotting platelets. About a third of patients with MDS develop a cancer called acute myelogenous leukemia. Patients often first develop anemia due to low red blood cell counts; they may also become more prone to infections and bleed or bruise easily.

Because MDS is a disease that is most common in older individuals, it is expected to rise in incidence as the population ages.

NewYork-Presbyterian's Approach

At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, we take a multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients with MDS – bringing together oncologists, hematopathologists, oncology nurses, psychosocial support specialists, and other experts to create a personalized plan of care for each patient.

The MDS Foundation, Inc. has named both the National Cancer Institute-designated Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center and the Weill Cornell Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center as Centers of Excellence for the research, diagnosis, and treatment of MDS.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with MDS may include:

• Fevers
• Frequent infections
• Fatigue
• Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin)
• Shortness of breath
• Increased skin paleness

These symptoms may also be associated with conditions other than MDS. Patients should see a doctor to determine the cause of their symptoms.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of MDS is made using blood tests, and is then confirmed by biopsying the bone marrow.

Once a diagnosis of MDS has been made, doctors may order additional tests to define the full extent of the disease.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for MDS so treatment focuses on counteracting the low cell counts and cancer that MDS can cause. Depending on the extent of disease, the treatment of MDS may include:

• Blood transfusions for red blood cells and/or platelets.
• Growth factors to elevate white blood cell counts.
• Chemotherapy (such as azacytidine, lenalidomide, or decitabine).
• Stem cell transplantation preceded by high-dose chemotherapy.

Research

NewYork-Presbyterian has one of the most robust basic science and clinical research programs for patients with MDS, featuring a strongly collaborative effort between experienced laboratory scientists and clinicians.

Although the disease strikes only 20,000 people a year in the US, the number of patients seeking treatment at NewYork-Presbyterian is sufficient to conduct clinical trials that generate meaningful data on the disease's biology and its treatment.

Patients at the Hospital may have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, if interested.