Myelodysplastic syndrome: alloHCT from older matched sibling donors versus younger matched unrelated donors

A retrospective cohort study using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Tranplant Research database found higher disease-free survival and lower relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in myelodysplastic syndrome using younger HLA matched unrelated donors (MUDs) compared with older matched sibling donors (MSDs). The risk of nonrelapse mortality and graft-versus-host disease was lower with older MSDs. The authors conclude that use of younger MUDs should be considered in the donor selection algorithm for myelodysplastic syndrome, in which it is pivotal to minimize relapse given limited options for managing relapsed disease.