Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a range of disorders characterized by morphologic dysplasia, cytopenias, and a risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Patients with lower-risk MDS are defined as having a risk of very low, low, or intermediate disease according to the IPSS-R. The armamentarium of treatment approaches is broadening in the field of lower-risk MDS, however, greater advances in treatment strategies are required before we can confidently alter the natural course of disease in the majority of patients.

In this podcast, Amer Zeidan, MBBS, Yale University and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, chairs an insightful discussion on lower-risk MDS, focusing on diagnostic approaches and associated challenges, current management of disease as well as future novel therapeutic options for MDS patients. Dr Zeidan is joined by Valeria Santini, MD, of the University of Florence, Florence, Italy, Rami Komrokji, MD, of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, and Olatoyosi Odenike, MD, of the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.