While there have been advances in the treatment of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) in recent years, one major challenge that remains is the treatment of patients following the failure of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).

In this podcast, experts Amer Zeidan, MBBS, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, Valeria Santini, MD, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, and Courtney DiNardo, MD, MSCE, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, delve into the historical context of treatment developments, sharing insights on the emergence of novel agents like luspatercept and imetelstat. They explore the current paradigm for managing LR-MDS, including the strategic use of hypomethylating agents (HMAs) and other innovative therapies. The experts also touch on the future of clinical trials and the importance of early intervention in improving quality of life (QoL) and survival for patients.