First international symposium on myelodysplastic syndrome

Conclusions

The First International Symposium on Myelodysplastic Syndromes gave a comprehensive overview of classification, pathology, and diagnosis of MDS. Further clues to pathogenesis lie in understanding the events at a molecular level. Haematopoietic growth factor therapy opens a new and exciting phase in the treatment of haematological malignancies including myelodysplastic syndromes. Randomized controlled multicenter trials are necessary to define the therapeutic value of low-dose AraC, intensive chemotherapy and treatment with differentiating agents such as 13-cis-retinoic acid. It is hoped within the next 3 years several of the questions raised in this meeting will be answered. The next meeting will be held in 1991 in the United Kingdom.