ATG doesn't quite work as was described. It has been used successfully for a small subset of MDS patients, typically with an immune-mediated form of MDS-RA or MDS-RCMD. Having a hypo-cellular marrow or a small PNH clone can be a sign that an immune attack is going on and could make someone a candidate for this form of treatment.
ATG is like a big hammer that wipes out the t-cells that are attacking the good cells in your marrow. The marrow must rebuild itself [slowly] afterwards and typically cyclosporine is given to keep the immune response down while the rebuilding is occurring. ATG does not stimulate the marrow per se. It is sometimes given as a pre-conditioning regimen before transplant.
That being said, I don't think there is any reason to think that a response from ATG will only last 3 years. If you have enough healthy stem cells left and the ATG was able to stop the major immune attack, you marrow may be able to fend for itself (or with the help of cyclosporine) for a long period of time. I am 6+ years from ATG.
Umaterr - There is a webinar tomorrow (June 2) on BMT for MDS that you may want to check out. They usually take questions at the end. Here is the link for more information and to sign up:
https://www.pathlms.com/aamdsif
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55 yo female, dx 9/08, AA/hypo-MDS, subclinical PNH, ATG/CsA 12/08, partial response. small trisomy 6 clone, low-dose cyclosporine dependent
Last edited by Hopeful : Tue Jun 2, 2015 at 10:21 AM.
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