Targeted therapies are a new frontier in the world of cancer. This breakthrough makes it possible to personalize medicine for different people, giving those battling MDS a better chance at finding the right treatment for them.
Advances in Targeted Therapy & Mutation Testing
Testing for IDH1
MDS Mutations is
Important
When cancer occurs, the cancer cells may have specific gene changes called mutations that trigger the cells to divide and grow. Medical researchers have developed targeted treatments that fight cancer cells with specific mutations. These treatments only work if their specific mutation is present.
If an MDS patient tests positive for the IDH1 mutation, they may be a candidate for a targeted treatment for MDS.
Ask Your Doctor About Getting MDS Mutation Testing
To make sure you know about all the MDS treatment options that are possible, ask your doctor to test for genetic mutations using a mutation biomarker test. In particular, there are targeted treatments for MDS designed to work in people who have the IDH1 mutation.
A biomarker test may be conducted on a tumor sample from a biopsy or surgery, or it might require a blood sample.
Targeted Therapy
Treatment for MDS
Targeted therapy uses specific treatments to address a specific problem in your body. Instead of killing both the good and bad fast-growing cells, like chemotherapy would do, targeted therapy only goes after the cells causing trouble, helping patients feel better with a lower impact on healthy cells.
Relapsed and
Refractory MDS
Refractory or relapsed MDS happens when a treatment attempt does not give the results doctors were hoping for.
Refractory MDS
Refractory MDS occurs when MDS doesn’t get better with
treatment or comes back within 6 months after treatment.
Relapsed MDS
Relapsed MDS is when MDS comes back in people who got
better with treatment for more than 6 months.
MDS mutation status may change over time. Even if you did not have an IDH mutation when you were first diagnosed with MDS, it’s possible you may have an IDH mutation after relapse. If you are re-tested for a mutation and one emerges, this could open a new option for treatment. Re-evaluating MDS mutations through the various stages of the disease is important.
There isn’t a one-size-fits all treatment for relapsed or refractory MDS. Patients may have several options, including joining a clinical trial, depending on disease characteristics, patient status, and prior treatment.
References
- IDH1 Mutations. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948091/pdf/0951668.pdf. Accessed March 4, 2024.
- Refractory and Relapsed MDS. https://www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/support-and-information/information-about-blood-cancer/blood-cancer-information/myelodysplastic-syndromes. Accessed March 6, 2024.
- American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/targeted-therapy/what-is.html. Accessed March 1, 2024.
- MD Anderson Cancer Center. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-is-cancer.h00-159537378.html. Lines 31-40. Accessed August 15, 2024.