Azacitidine Dosing for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The hypomethylating agent azacitidine (Vidaza) prolongs survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS; JW Oncol Hematol Mar 24 2009). However, the standard dosing schedule (75 mg/m² daily for 7 consecutive days every 4 weeks) is cumbersome because of the required weekend therapy.

To assess alternative schedules, investigators conducted an industry-sponsored, randomized, multicenter, community-based, phase II trial involving 151 MDS patients, most of whom had refractory anemia or refractory anemia with or without excessive numbers of blasts. Patients with secondary MDS, histories of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or other cancers, or plans to receive transplantation were excluded. Most patients were low risk, albeit with substantial …