Myelodysplastic Syndromes in the Elderly

Mufti G.J. , Galton D.A. . Myelodysplastic syndromes: natural history and features of prognostic importance. Clin Haematol. 1986; 15: 953–971.

Raza A. , Alvi S. , Borok R.Z. . Excessive proliferation matched by excessive apoptosis in myelodysplastic syndromes: the cause-effect relationship. Leuk Lymphoma. 1997; 27: 111–118.

Parcharidou A. , Raza A. , Economopoulis T. . Extensive apoptosis of bone marrow cells as evaluated by the in situ end-labelling (ISEL) technique may be the basis for ineffective haematopoiesis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Eur J Haematol. 1999; 62; 19–26.

Goyal R. , Qawi H. , Ali I. . Biologic characteristics of patients with hypocellular myelodysplastic syndromes. Leuk Res. 1999; 23: 357–364.

Joosten E. , Pelemans W. , Hièle M. . Prevalence and causes of anaemia in a geriatric hospitalized population. Gerontology. 1992; 38: 111–117.

Intragumtornchait T. , Prayoonwiwat W. , Swasdikul D. . Myelodysplastic syndromes in Thailand: a retrospective pathologic and clinical analysis of 117 cases. Leuk Res. 1998; 22: 453–460.

Goasguen J.E. , Garand R. , Bizet M. . Prognostic factors of myelodysplastic syndromes: a simplified 3-D scoring system. Leuk Res. 1990; 14: 255–262.

Bennett J.M. , Catovsky D. , Daniel M.T. . Proposals for the classification of the myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1982; 51: 189–199.

Recommendations for a morphologic, immunologic, and cytogenetic (MIC) working classification of the primary and therapy-related myelodysplastic disorders. Report of the workshop held at Scottsdale, Arizona, on February 23-25,1987. Third MIC Cooperative Study Group. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 1988; 32: 1–10.

Harris N.L. , Jaffe E.S. , Diebold J. . The World Health Organization classification of neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Report of the Clinical Advisory Committee meeting, Airlie House, Virginia, November, 1997. J Clin Oncol. 1999; 17: 3835–3849.

Aul C. , Gattermann N. , Heyll A. . Primary myelodysplastic syndromes: analysis of prognostic factors in 235 patients and proposals for an improved scoring system. Leukemia. 1992; 6: 52–59.

Storniolo A.M. , Moloney W.C. , Rosen C.S. . Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Leukemia. 1990; 4: 766–770.

Bennett J.M. . Myelodysplastic syndromes: a forum for debate and discussion. Leuk Res. 1993; 17: 475.

Add Mecucci C. , Vanden Berghe H. . Cytogenetics. Hematol Oncol Clin N Am. 1992; 6: 523–541.

Horiike S. , Taniwaki M. , Misawa S. . Chromosome abnormalities and karyotypic evolution in 83 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and predictive value for prognosis. Cancer. 1988; 62: 1129–1138.

Bernasconi C. . Prognostic factors in myelodysplastic syndromes. Hematol Oncol. 1993; 11: 20–26.

Gallagher A. , Padua R.A. , al-Sabah A. . Aberrant expression of p21RAS but not p120GAP is a common feature of myelodysplasia. Leukemia. 1995; 9: 1833–1840.

Kalra R. , Dale D. , Freedman M. . Monosomy 7 and activating RAS mutations accompany malignant transformation in patients with congenital neutropenia. Blood. 1995; 86: 4579–4586.

Constantinidou M. , Chalevelakis G. , Economopoulis T. . Codon 12 ras mutations in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome: incidence and prognostic value. Ann Hematol. 1997; 74: 11–14.

Parry T.E. . The nonrandom distribution of point mutations in leukaemia and myelodysplasia: a possible pointer to their aetiology. Leuk Res. 1997; 21: 559–574.

Gallagher A. , Darley R. , Padua R.A. . RAS and the myelodysplastic syndromes. Pathol Biol (Paris). 1997; 45: 561–568.

Padua R.A. , Guinn B.A. , Al-Sabah A.I. . RAS, RMS and p53 mutations and poor clinical outcome in myelodysplasias: a 10-year follow-up. Leukemia. 1998; 12: 887–892.

de Sousa Gernandez T. , Menezes de Souza J. , Macedo Silva M.L. . Correlation of N-ras point mutations with specific chromosomal abnormalities in primary myelodysplastic syndrome. Leuk Res. 1998; 22: 125–134.

Sanz G.F. , Sanz M.A. , Vallespi T. . Two regression models and a scoring system for predicting survival and planning treatment in myelodysplastic syndromes: a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in 370 patients. Blood. 1989; 74: 395–408.

Kerkhofs H. , Hermans J. , Haak H.L. . Utility of the FAB classification for myelodysplastic syndromes: investigation of prognostic factors in 237 cases. Br J Haematol. 1987; 65: 73–81.

Tricot G. , Vlietinck R. , Boogaerts M.A. . Prognostic factors in the myelodysplastic syndromes: importance of initial data on peripheral blood counts, bone marrow cytology, trephine biopsy and chromosomal analysis. Br J Haematol. 1985; 60: 19–32.

Mufti G.J. , Stevens J.R. , Oscier D.G. . Myelodysplastic syndromes: a scoring system with prognostic significance. Br J Haematol. 1985; 59: 425–433.

Aul C. , Schneider W. . Myelodysplastic syndromes: a prognostic factor analysis of 221 untreated patients. Blut. 1988; 57: 234.

Greenberg P. , Cox C. , Le Beau M.M. . International scoring system for evaluating prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes. Haematologica. 1998; 83: 358–376.

Sanz G. , Sanz M. , Greenberg P. . Prognostic factors and scoring systems in myelodysplastic syndromes: recent advances in myelodysplastic syndromes. Haematologica. 1998; 83: 358–376.

Varela B.L. , Chuang C. , Woll J.E. . Modifications in the classification of primary myelodysplastic syndromes: the addition of a scoring system. Haematol Oncol. 1985: 3; 55–63.

NCCN practice guidelines for the myelodysplastic syndromes. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Oncology (Huntingt). 1998; 12: 53–80.

Saba H.I. , Ballester O.F. , Balducci L. . Hemopoietic growth factors in myelodysplasia. Hematol Rev. 1992; 37: 207–221.

Najean Y. , Pecking A. . Refractory anaemia with excess of myeloblasts in the bone marrow: a clinical trial of androgens in 90 patients. Br J Haematol. 1977; 37: 25–33.

Cines D.B. , Cassileth P.A. , Kiss J.E. . Danazol therapy in myelodysplasia. Ann Intern Med. 1985; 103: 58–60.

Bassan R. , Marini B. , Barbui T. . Danazol (DZ) treatment for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Blood. 1987; 70: 222a.

Buccarani M. , Tura S. . Differentiation of myeloid leukaemic cells: new possibilities for therapy. Br J Haematol. 1979; 42: 485–487.

Wisch J.S. , Griffin J.D. , Kufe D.W. . Response of preleukemic syndromes to continuous infusion of low-dose cytarabine. N Engl J Med. 1983; 309: 1599–1602.

Miller K.B. , Kim K. , Morrison F.S. . Evaluation of low dose Ara-C versus supportive care in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes: an intergroup study by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and Southwest Oncology Group. Blood. 1988; 72: 215a.

Clark R.E. , Ismail S.A. , Jacobs A. . A randomized trial of 13-cis retinoic acid with or without cytosine arabinoside in patients with the myelodysplastic syndrome. Br J Haematol. 1987; 66: 77–83.

Garewal H. , Greenberg P. , List A. . N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide [4-HPR] therapy in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): possible disease acceleration by retinoids. Blood. 1987; 70: 228a.

Cheson B.D. . The myelodysplastic syndromes: current approaches to therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1990; 112: 932–941.

Zagonel V. , Lo Re G. , Marotta G. . 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (decitabine) is an effective agent for the treatment of advanced myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1992; 11: 226a.

Pinto A. , Zagonel V. . 5- Aza-2′deoxycytidine (Decitabine) and 5-azacytidine in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes: past, present, and future trends. Leukemia. 1993; 7: 51–60.

Silverman L.R. , Holland J.F. , Weinberg R.S. . Effects of treatment with 5-azacytidine on the in vivo and in vitro hematopoiesis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Leukemia. 1993; 7: 21–29.

Wijermans P. , Lubbert M. , Verhoef G. . Low-dose 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine, a DNA hypomethylating agent for the treatment of high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome: a multicenter phase II study in elderly patients. J Clin Oncol. 2000; 18: 956–962.

Silverman L.R. , Demakos E.P. , Peterson B. . A randomized controlled trial of subcutaneous azacytidine (aza c) in patients with the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS): a study of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB). Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Onc. 1998; 17: 53.

Kornblith A.B. , Herndon J.E. , Silver-man L.R. . The impact of 5-azacytidine on the quality of life of patients with the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) treated in a randomized phase III trial of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB). Blood. 1998; 92: 189a.

Appelbaum F.R. , Anderson J. . Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome: outcomes analysis according to IPSS score. Leukemia. 1998; 12: S25–29.

Mattijssen V. , Schattenberg A. , Schaap N. . Outcome of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with lymphocyte-depleted marrow grafts in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1997; 19: 791–794.

De Witte T. , Van Biezen A. , Hermans J. . Autologous bone marrow transplantation for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia following MDS. Chronic and Acute Leukemia Working Parties of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Blood. 1997; 90: 3853–3857.

Runde V. , de Witte T. , Arnold R. . Bone marrow transplantation from HLA-identical siblings as first-line treatment in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: early transplantation is associated with improved outcome. Chronic Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1998; 21: 255–261.

Wattel E. , Solary E. , Leleu X. . A prospective study of autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after intensive chemotherapy in myelodysplastic syndromes. Groupe Francais des Myelodysplasies. Group Ouest-Est d'Etude des Leucemies aigues myeloides. Leukemia. 1999; 13: 524–529.

Deeg H.J. , Shulman H.M. , Anderson J.E. . Allogeneic and syngeneic marrow transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome in patients 55 to 66 years of age. Blood. 2000; 95: 1188–1194.

Mertelsmann R. , Tzvi Thaler H. , To L. . Morphological classification, response to therapy, and survival in 263 adult patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. Blood. 1980; 56: 773–781.

Armitage J.O. , Dick F.R. , Needleman S.W. . Effect of chemotherapy for the dys-myelopoietic syndrome. Cancer Treat Rep. 1981; 65: 601–605.

Preisler H.D. , Raza A. , Barcos M. . High-dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of preleukemic disorders: a leukemia intergroup study. Am J Hematol. 1986; 23: 131–134.

Tricot G. , Boogaerts M.A. . The role of aggressive chemotherapy in the treatment of the myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1986; 63: 477–483.

Keating M.J. , McCredie K.B. , Benjamin R.S. . Treatment of patients over 50 years of age with acute myelogenous leukemia with a combination of rubidazone and cytosine arabinoside, vincristine and prednisone (ROAP). Blood. 1981; 58: 584–591.

Aul C. , Schneider W. . The role of low-dose cytosine arabinoside and aggressive chemotherapy in advanced myelodysplastic syndromes. Cancer. 1989; 64: 1812–1818.

Gajewski J.L. , Ho W.G. , Nimer S.D. . Efficacy of intensive chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia associated with a preleukemic syndrome. J Clin Oncol. 1989; 7: 1637–1645.

Fenaux P. , Preudhomme C. , Hebbar M. . The role of intensive chemotherapy in myelodysplastic syndromes. Leuk Lymphoma. 1992; 8: 43–49.

Hirst W.J. , Mufti G.J. . The rate of disease progression predicts the quality of remissions following intensive chemotherapy for myelodysplastic syndromes. Leuk Res. 1994; 18: 797–804.

Ruutu T. , Hanninen A. , Jarventie G. . Intensive chemotherapy of poor prognosis myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia following MDS with idarubicin and cytarabine. Leuk Res. 1997; 21: 133–138.

Aul C. , Germing U. , Minning H. . Role of aggressive treatment strategies for myelodysplastic syndromes [in German]. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1999; 88: 431–438.

Saba H.I. , Shamim F. , Ismail R. . Acute leukemic transformation in myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood. 1992; 80: 459a.

Pirker R. , Wallner J. , Geissler K. . MDR1 gene expression and treatment outcome in acute myeloid leukemia. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1991; 83: 708–712.

Solary E. , Witz B. , Caillot D. . Combination of quinine as a potential reversing agent with mitroxantrone and cytarabine for the treatment of acute leukemias: a randomized multicenter study. Blood. 1996; 88: 1198–1205.

Berman E. , McBride M. , Lin S. . Phase I trial of high-dose tamoxifen as a modulator of drug resistance in combination with daunorubicin in patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia. Leukemia. 1995; 9: 1631–1637.

List A.F. , Spier C. , Greer J. . Phase I/II trial of cyclosporin as a chemotherapy-resistance modifier in acute leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 1993; 11: 1652–1660.

Twentyman P.R. , Bleehen N.M. . Resistance modification by PSC-833, a novel non-immunosuppressive cyclosporin. Eur J Cancer. 1991; 27: 1639–1642.

Advani R. , Saba H.I. , Tallman M.S. . Treatment of refractory and relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia with combination chemotherapy plus the multidrug resistance modulator PSC 833 (Valspodar). Blood. 1999; 93: 787–795.

List A.F. , Garewal H.S. , Sandberg A.A. . The myelodysplastic syndromes: biology and implications for management. J Clin Oncol. 1990; 8: 1424–1441.

Young D.C. , Griffin J.D. . Autocrine secretion of GM-CSF in acute myeloblastic leukemia. Blood. 1986; 68: 1178–1181.

Delwel R. , Dorssers L. , Touw I. . Human recombinant multilineage colony stimulating factor (interleukin-3): stimulator of acute myelocytic leukemia progenitor cells in vitro. Blood. 1987; 70: 333–336.

Vadhan-Raj S. , Keating M. , LeMaistre A. . Effects of recombinant human granulocytic-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. N Engl J Med. 1987; 317: 1545–1552.

Antin J.H. , Smith B.R. , Holmes W. . Phase I/II study of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood. 1988; 72: 705–713.

Thompson J.A. , Lee D.J. , Kidd P. . Subcutaneous granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome: toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and hematological effects. J Clin Oncol. 1989; 7: 629–637.

Ganser A. , Volkers B. , Greher J. . Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a phase I/II trial. Blood. 1989; 73: 31–37.

Estey E. , Kurzrock R. , Talpaz M. . Therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with GM-CSF. Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1989; 8: 200a.

Schuster M.W. , Thompson J.A. , Larson R. . Randomized trial of subcutaneous granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) versus observation in patients (pts) with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 1990; 116: 1079a.

Willemze R. , Visani G. , de Witte T.H. . A randomized phase I/II study with recombinant human GM-CSF in patients (pts) with myelodysplastic syndromes at relatively low risk of developing acute leukemia. Blood. 1990; 76: 337a.

Rosenfeld C.S. , Sulecki M. , Evans C. . Comparison of intravenous versus subcutaneous recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in patients with primary myelodysplasia. Exp Hematol. 1991; 19: 273–277.

Willemze R. , van der Lely N. , Zwierz-ina H. . A randomized phase I/II multicenter study of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) therapy for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and a relatively low risk of acute leukemia. EORTC Leukemia Cooperative Group. Ann Hematol. 1992; 64: 173–180.

Takahashi M. , Yoshida Y. , Kaku K. . Phase II study of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in myelodysplastic syndrome and aplastic anemia. Acta Haematol. 1993; 89: 189–194.

Greenberg P.L. , Negrin R. , Nagler A. . Effects of CSFs in preleukemia. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1990; 6: 121–126.

Kurzrock R. , Talpaz M. , Gomez J.A. . Differential dose-related hematological effects of GM-CSF in pancytopenia: evidence supporting the advantage of low-over high-dose administration in selected patients. Br J Haematol. 1991; 78: 352–358.

Delmer A. , Karmochkine M. , Cadion M. . Recurrent spleen enlargement during cyclic granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor therapy for myelodysplastic syndromes. Am J Hematol. 1990; 34: 73–74.

Negrin R. , Haeuber D.H. , Nagler A. . Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor: a phase I-II trial. Ann Intern Med. 1989; 110: 976–984.

Kobayashi Y. , Okabe T. , Ozawa K. . Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor: a preliminary report. Am J Med. 1989; 86: 178–182.

Ohyashiki K. , Ohyashiki J.H. , Toyama K. . Hematologic and cytogenetic findings in myelodysplastic syndromes treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony- stimulating factor. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1989; 80: 848–854.

Negrin R.S. , Haeuber D.H. , Nagler A. . Maintenance treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes using recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Blood. 1990; 76: 36–43.

Yoshida Y. , Hirashima K. , Asano S. . A phase II trial of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1991; 78: 378–384.

Greenberg P. , Negrin R. , Nagler A. . Effects of prolonged treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Int J Cell Cloning. 1990; 8(suppl 1): 293–302.

Greenberg P. , Taylor K. , Larson R. . Phase III randomized multicenter trial of G-CSF vs observation for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Blood. 1993; 82(10,S1): 196a.

Stenke L. , Wallvik J. , Celsing F. . Prediction of response to treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin in myelodysplastic syndromes. Leukemia. 1993; 7: 1324–1327.

Stein R.S. , Abels R.I. , Krantz S.B. . Pharmacologic doses of recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood. 1991; 78: 1658–1663.

Hellstrom E. , Birgegard G. , Lockner D. . Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes with recombinant human erythropoietin. Euro J. Haematol. 1991; 47: 355–360.

Aloe Spiriti M.A. , Petti M.C. , Latagliata R. . Is recombinant human erythropoietin treatment in myelodysplastic syndromes worthwhile? Leuk Lymphoma. 1993; 9: 79–83.

Negrin R.S. , Stein R. , Vardiman J. . Treatment of the anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes using recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in combination with erythropoietin. Blood. 1993; 82: 737–743.

Negrin R.S. , Stein R. , Doherty K. . Maintenance treatment of the anemia of myelodysplastic syndromes with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin: evidence for in vivo synergy. Blood. 1996; 87: 4076–4081.

Hellstrom-Lindberg E. , Ahlgren T. , Beguin Y. . Treatment of anemia in myelodysplastic syndromes with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor plus erythropoietin: results from a randomized phase II study and long-term follow-up of 71 patients. Blood. 1998; 92: 68–75.

Nadeem S.O. , Saba H.I. , Nawab U. . Is cytokine therapy superior to chemotherapy in the management of acute myelocytic leukemia evolving from myelodysplasia. Blood. 1994; 84: 634a.

Yoshida Y. . Treatment of the myelodysplastic syndromes: an updated Japanese experience. Semin Hematol. 1996; 33: 246–255.

Cortelezzi A. , Sarina B. , Cattaneo C. . In vitro effects of IL-2 on NK-activity, clonogenic potential, blast cell proliferation and cytokine release of MDS bone marrow patients. Leukemia. 1996; 10: 1181–1189.

Ogata K. , Yokose N. , Nomura T. . Interleukin-2 therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome: does it work? Leuk Lymphoma. 1995; 17: 411–415.

Nand S. , Stock W. , Stiff P. . A phase II trial of interleukin-2 in myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1998; 101: 205–207.

Gordon M.S. , Nemunaitis J. , Hoffman R. . A phase I trial of recombinant human interleukin-6 in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and thrombocytopenia. Blood. 1995; 85: 3066–3076.

Zwierzina H. , Holzinger I. , Gaggl S. . Recombinant human interleukin-8 restores function in neutrophils from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes without stimulating myeloid progenitor cells. Scand J Immunol. 1993; 37: 322–328.

Bartley T.D. , Bogenberger J. , Hunt P. . Identification and cloning of a megakaryocyte growth and development factor that is a ligand for the cytokine receptor Mpl. Cell. 1994; 77: 1117–1124.

Tafuri A. , Lemoli R.M. , Petrucci M.T. . Thrombopoietin and interleukin 11 have different modulatory effects on cell cycle and programmed cell death in primary acute myeloid leukemia. Exp Hematol. 1999; 27: 1255–1263.

Ogata K. , Tamura H. , Yokose N. . Effects of interleukin-12 on natural killer cell cytotoxicity and the production of interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1995; 90: 15–21.

Glinsmann-Gibson B. , Spier C. , Baier M. . Mast cell growth factor (c-kit ligand) restores growth of multipotent progenitors in myelodysplastic syndrome. Leukemia. 1994; 8: 827–832.

List A.F. , Heaton R. , Glinsmann-Gibson B. . Amifostine stimulates formation of multipotent and erythroid bone marrow progenitors. Leukemia. 1998; 12: 1596–1602.

Griggs J.J. . Reducing the toxicity of anticancer therapy: new strategies. Leuk Res. 1998; 22: S27–S33.

List A.F. , Brasfield F. , Heaton R. . Stimulation of hematopoiesis by amifostine in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood. 1997; 90: 3364–3369.

Bowen D.T. , Denzlinger C. , Brugger W. . Poor response rate to a continuous schedule of amifostine therapy for “low/intermediate risk” myelodysplastic patients. Br J Haematol. 1998; 103: 785–787.

Berer A. , Ohler L. , Simonitsch I. . Long-term improvement of hematopoiesis following cyclosporine treatment in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1999; 111: 815–818.

Jonasova A. , Neuwirtova R. , Cermak J. . Cyclosporin A therapy in hypoplastic MDS patients and certain refractory anaemias without hypoplastic bone marrow. Br J Haematol. 1998; 100: 304–309.

Biesma D.H. , van den Tweel J.G. , Verdonck L.F. . Immunosuppressive therapy for hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome. Cancer. 1997; 79: 1548–1551.

Molldrem J.J. , Caples M. , Mavroudis D. . Antithymocyte globulin for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Br J Haematol. 1998; 99: 699–705.

Molldrem J.J. , Jiang Y.Z. , Stetler-Steven-son M. . Haematological response of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome to antithymocyte globulin is associated with a loss of lymphocyte-mediated inhibition of CFU-GM and alterations in T-cell receptor Vbeta profiles. Br J Haematol. 1998; 102: 1314–1322.

Killick A.B. , Marsh J.C. , Cavenagh J.D. . Antithymocyte globulin for the treatment of patients with “low risk” myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood. 1999; 94: 306a.

Estey E.H. . Incorporating new modalities into guidelines. Topotecan for myelodysplastic syndromes. Oncology (Huntingt). 1998; 12: 81–86.

Raza A. , Dar S. , Borok R. . Encouraging response to amifostine, pentoxifylline, ciprofloxacin, dexamethasone (A-PCD) +/-topotecan in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood. 1999; 94: 305a.

Besa E.C. . A new combination chemotherapy using topotecan, fludarabine, ARA-C and G-CSF for aggressive myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myelogenous leukemia in the elderly: dose finding for topotecan study. Blood. 1999; 94: 307a.

Beran M. , Kantarjian H. . Results of topotecan-based combination therapy in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Semin Hematol. 1999; 36: 3–10.

Denzlinger C. , Bowen D. , Benz D. . Low-dose melphalan induces favourable responses in elderly patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndromes or secondary acute myeloid leukemia. Br J Haematol. 2000; 108: 93–95.

Sabir T. , Raza S. , Anderson L. . Thalidomide is effective in the treatment of recurrent, refractory multiple myeloma. Blood. 1999; 94: 125a.

Raza A. , Lisak L. , Andrews C. . Thalidomide produces transfusion independence in patients with long standing refractory anemias and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Blood. 1999; 94: 661a.

Donelli A. , Chiodino C. , Panissidi T. . Might arsenic trioxide be useful in the treatment of advanced myelodysplastic syndromes? Haematologica. 2000; 85: 1002–1003.

Soignet S. , Frankel S. , Tallman M. . US multicenter trial of arsenic trioxide (AT) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Blood. 1999; 96: 3084.

Dutcher J.P. , Wiernik P.H. , Novik Y. . Major hematologic response in a patient with myelodysplasia (MDS) to arsenic trioxide (ATO). Blood. 2000; 96: 2606.

Wiernik P.H. , Dutcher J.P. , Gallagher R. . Phase II trial of arsenic trioxide (AS203) in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), blast crisis of CML, or myelodysplasia (MDS). Blood. 1999; 94: 510a.