Will cytokines alter the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome?

Myelodysplastic syndrome is a frustrating disorder, which until recently lacked effective treatment. Patients usually succumb to infection, bleeding complications, or progression to acute leukemia. Recombinant cytokines such as granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, interleukin-3, and erythropoietin have been used to ameliorate the cytopenias associated with this disease. Small clinical trials in myelodysplastic syndrome patients, using cytokines with myeloid activity (G-CSF, GMCSF, IL-3), have shown consistent elevations in the white blood cell counts with little success in elevating hemoglobin or platelets. Erythropoietin is able to increase the hemoglobin in a small group of myelodysplastic syndrome patients. Future trials using combinations of these cytokines may lead to multilineage effects.