Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Center

The Stanford MDS Center has been recognized by the MDS Foundation as an MDS Center of Excellence.

Under the Direction of Dr. Peter Greenberg, Professor of Medicine/Hematology, the MDS Center provides special expertise for adults with Myelodysplastic Syndrome and its associated clinical problems.

This resource includes an outpatient clinic, experimental clinical trial structure and personnel within the Stanford Cancer Institute's Hematology Division which provides patients and their physicians access to:

  • Current information about the MDS
  • Current therapeutic approaches
  • Clinical trials for MDS
  • Knowledge of optimal usage of treatment therapies
  • Knowledge of treatment timing and patient selection

The major focus of the MDS Center is:

  • Coordination of patient management and scientific exchange with referring physicians
  • Patient/family education about MDS
  • Individualized prognosis-based treatment approaches
  • Quality of life issues in MDS

Management approaches at the MDS Center include use of recently developed national practice guidelines based on advances in prognostic evaluation of MDS patients through the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Differing types of treatment are available based on patients' specific subtype of MDS and related clinical problems.

In addition to supportive care being provided (eg, transfusions and antibiotics as needed), treatment options with new agents are available, including those through clinical trials in the MDS Center. Currently active clinical trials for MDS may be viewed under MDS protocols on the Hematology Division Clinical Trials page. The clinical trials through the Stanford MDS Center are comprised of "low intensity" or "high intensity" therapy:

Low intensity therapy:

  • Darbepoetin vs G-CSF plus Darbepoetin
  • Deferasirox (ICL670, Exjade) for treatment of iron overload in MDS
  • Azacytidine plus the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS275
  • Azacytidine or decitabine plus the thrombopoietic agent AMG531

High intensity therapy:

  • Zosuquidar (a multi-drug resistance modulator) plus chemotherapy
  • Bone marrow transplantation

Physician Staff

Peter Greenberg, MD, Professor Emeritus (active) of Medicine (Hematology), MDS Center Director
Jason Gotlib, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology)
Bruno Medeiros, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology)

For appointments call the Stanford Cancer Institute's Main Phone Number at (650) 498-6000. For more information, visit the Stanford Hematology Clinic page. You will find contact information and directions.