MDS/MPN-U treatment for my father

[Fahad]

Hi All :)

The doctor has suggested chemotherapy with Vidaza 200mg (5 times per month for 4 months) at the earliest for my father. As per the Dr. this may not be a definite treatment since MDS/MPN-U treatment is not standardised yet. Has anyone heard of similar case and a succesful treatment. I am asking for a opinion, what if a better treatment is available which has been tested. What if another test report might lead us to the right treatment. Presently, only Hydreya 3x500mg is prescribed.

Here are the findings from test results and his current condition.
- Age 69
- Spleen enlarged to 15cm and he is extremely fatigued.
- Blood count is deteriorating rapidly standing at (WBC 51900, RBC 2.62, HB 7.6, Pt 45000)
- Blast cells < 6%
- Cytogentic studies report, Philadelphia chromosome not found.
- BCR ABL is negative
- JAK-2 Mutations V617F is negative

All the best to you !
Fahad

[SLJ]

I hope your father is responding well to treatment. My mother is going through this exact same ailment as well and similar treatment, complications and now being prescribed Vidaza. From what I've read and understand, there are two newer treatments showing promise if he does not respond to the Vidaza:

4246 Ruxolitinib (RUX) in Combination with Azacytidine (AZA) in Patients (pts) with Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MDS/MPNs)
https://ash.confex.com/ash/2016/webprogram/Paper96905.html
(see Conclusion, which states "The benefit seems to be more profound in pts with MDS/MPN-U...")

and

SGI-111

https://cornellleukemia.com/2016/04/13/dr-pinkal-desai-discusses-a-clinical-trial-of-sgi-110-for-people-with-mdsmpn-and-cmmol/

The good thing is that it looks like they can be treated with these above newer treatments (that are in trials still) after being treated by Vidaza (azacitidine).

Wishing your Dad success with his treatment!