What's New?

At the MDS Foundation’s 18^th International Congress, global experts shared new insights into the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of MDS, including the role of inflammation in clonal evolution, moves toward a unified classification system, earlier identification of CHIP and CCUS, and updates on therapies like venetoclax and luspatercept. Read the full special edition report for more.

A new clinical trial shows that using partially matched peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donors—combined with cyclophosphamide to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)—can be a safe and effective option for patients with blood cancers who don’t have fully matched donors. One year post-transplant, 80% of participants were alive, and the rate of serious GVHD was comparable to fully matched transplants. This breakthrough could help more patients, especially those from diverse backgrounds, access life-saving transplants.

CancerCare has released a new educational workshop recording covering key updates in MDS treatment. Topics include diagnosis and staging, new and emerging therapies, symptom and side effect management, nutrition tips, and how to prepare for telehealth appointments. The session also highlights the role of clinical trials and follow-up care planning, with insights from a panel of experts.

AbbVie has announced that the Phase III VERONA trial evaluating venetoclax in combination with azacitidine in newly diagnosed higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival. The safety profile was consistent with previous studies, and no new safety signals were observed. These results do not impact venetoclax’s existing indications.

A recent clinical trial led by Al Malki et al. (Journal of Clinical Oncology, June 16, 2025) evaluated the safety and efficacy of cyclophosphamide‑based graft‑versus‑host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis in patients receiving partially HLA-matched peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplants—primarily individuals with blood cancers who lacked fully matched donors. After one year, around 80% survival and only 10% moderate-to-severe GVHD were observed, rates comparable to fully matched transplants. The findings suggest that PBSC transplants from partially matched donors, when combined with post-transplant cyclophosphamide, are a safe and effective option, especially expanding access for patients from diverse genetic backgrounds or when younger donors are needed

The European Hematology Association (EHA) 2025 Annual Congress, held June 12–15 in Milan, Italy, featured over 100 presentations focused on myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). This year’s research spotlighted promising advances across diagnosis, risk stratification, anemia treatment in lower-risk MDS, strategies for high-risk disease, and transplantation. Notably, new insights into AI-powered diagnostics, the evolving use of imetelstat and luspatercept, and emerging transplant protocols were shared. Explore our full summary for key data and takeaways from featured abstracts that may shape the future of MDS care.

Bone marrow biopsies play a critical role in diagnosing, staging, and monitoring treatment response in AML. In this expert-led educational video, Thomas LeBlanc, MD, MA, MHS, hematologist-oncologist, associate professor of medicine and population health sciences at Duke Cancer Institute, and Keri Halsema, MSN, NP, nurse practitioner and senior instructor in the Cell Therapy Center at University of Colorado, walk through essential best practices for performing and interpreting bone marrow biopsies in AML care. Topics include key diagnostic tests, biopsy techniques, outpatient procedural considerations, and strategies to improve provider confidence through training and simulation. The video also highlights the importance of patient education, interdisciplinary coordination, and timely lab processing to support optimal outcomes.

Research is the pathway towards a cure for MDS. From May 30 to June 3, 2025, doctors from around the world met to talk about new treatments at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Dr. Goldberg has prepared an easy-to-understand summary of the key MDS studies presented.