Hi Annm,
They have now found a gene called WT1 on chromosome 11p that perhaps can indicate if we will respond to Vidaza. If this gene is methylated (if there is an extra methyl group at the DNA) we won't belong to the patients who respond. These results have to be confirmed before we are sure that it really is true.
Here is an abstract where they report that low risk MDS patients who need many blood txs and don't respond to EPO don't respond so well when they are treated with Vidaza. As you can see the study still is very small. Then they have only reported transfusion independence. The patients can have had other types of hematologic improvements:
http://ash.confex.com/ash/2011/webpr...aper38568.html
Kind regards
Birgitta-A