Association between treatment-emergent cytopenias and clinical responses to imetelstat in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes - Summary - MDSpire

Association between treatment-emergent cytopenias and clinical responses to imetelstat in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

  • By

  • Amer M. Zeidan

  • Valeria Santini

  • María Díez-Campelo

  • Michael R. Savona

  • Mikkael A. Sekeres

  • Yazan F. Madanat

  • Pierre Fenaux

  • Azra Raza

  • Moshe Mittelman

  • Sylvain Thépot

  • Rena Buckstein

  • Ulrich Germing

  • David Valcárcel

  • Anna Jonášová

  • Sheetal Shah

  • Qi Xia

  • Libo Sun

  • Shyamala Navada

  • Tymara Berry

  • Uwe Platzbecker

  • Rami S. Komrokji

  • April 7, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the association between early treatment-emergent cytopenias with imetelstat and clinical responses in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, highlighting its potential significance.

Key Findings:
  • Significant association between maximum platelet reduction and maximum hemoglobin rise, indicating potential clinical implications.
  • Patients with ≥50% maximum platelet reduction had a higher likelihood of achieving hemoglobin rise ≥1.5 g/dL lasting ≥8 weeks, suggesting a predictive role.
  • Incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was high but transient, with low rates of severe clinical consequences, emphasizing the need for monitoring.
Interpretation:

Early cytopenias induced by imetelstat may serve as indicators of clinical response in lower-risk MDS patients, particularly regarding hemoglobin improvement and transfusion independence, with potential applications in clinical practice.

Limitations:
  • Post hoc analysis may introduce bias.
  • Findings are based on a specific patient population from clinical trials, limiting generalizability.
Conclusion:

Early treatment-emergent cytopenias with imetelstat are associated with improved clinical outcomes in lower-risk MDS, suggesting a potential predictive role for these adverse events, warranting close monitoring in clinical settings.

Original Source(s)

Association between treatment-emergent cytopenias and clinical responses to imetelstat in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

  • by Amer M. Zeidan, Valeria Santini, María Díez-Campelo, Michael R. Savona, Mikkael A. Sekeres, Yazan F. Madanat, Pierre Fenaux, Azra Raza, Moshe Mittelman, Sylvain Thépot, Rena Buckstein, Ulrich Germing, David Valcárcel, Anna Jonášová, Sheetal Shah, Qi Xia, Libo Sun, Shyamala Navada, Tymara Berry, Uwe Platzbecker, Rami S. Komrokji

  • April 7, 2026

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