Daniel DeAngelo, MD, PhD

Panelists discuss the sequencing of therapies in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, debating whether to initiate treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents due to cost and patient variability or with luspatercept for its superior efficacy and potential disease-modifying effects, while highlighting ongoing trials exploring combined or sequential strategies.

Panelists discuss treatment strategies for lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes guided by serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels, weighing the reduced efficacy of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents at higher EPO levels against newer therapies’ benefits and challenges, and emphasizing personalized sequencing based on patient and disease characteristics.

Panelists discuss the debate on optimal timing for initiating therapies in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, balancing early intervention to improve quality of life and prevent complications against a conservative approach favoring treatment initiation upon transfusion dependency or symptom onset.

Panelists discuss findings from the IMerge phase 3 trial of imetelstat in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, emphasizing its impact on transfusion independence and fatigue improvement, and advocating for a sequential, patient-centered treatment approach to enhance quality of life and long-term outcomes.

Panelists discuss long-term results from a phase 3 trial comparing luspatercept and epoetin alfa in lower-risk MDS, highlighting luspatercept’s superior efficacy in achieving sustained transfusion independence and the need for further research on earlier intervention strategies.

Panelists discuss the results of the phase 3 EPO-PRETAR trial in a dynamic, debate-style forum on lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, weighing the benefits of early vs late erythropoiesis-stimulating agent initiation while highlighting the need for more patient-centered outcome measures.