Overview
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) is regognized as a Center of Excellence by the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or myeloproliferative disorders which are also called myeloproliferative neoplasms, or MPN, are a group of chronic bone marrow diseases that affect blood-forming stem cells.
The doctors at SCCA, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and UW Medicine are world leaders in research and work to better understand the causes of these diseases and provide effective treatments.
SCCA offers a full range of standard therapies, such as the growth factor erythropoietin, which may increase red blood cell counts, and the drugs azacitidine (Vidaza) and decitabine (Dacogen). In addition, we offer treatments that are not yet commercially available but have shown promise in pilot studies and are being tested in clinical studies, such as clofarabine (given by mouth), SB1518 (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor), and others.
We also offer bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation (also called hematopoietic cell transplantation) the only treatment option with the potential to cure MDS or MPN. SCCA ranked first in outcomes in a five-year study by the National Marrow Donor Program that measured one-year survival rates of patients among 122 transplant centers in the United States.
In June 2010, the Hutchinson Center held a one-day conference for MDS patients and their families. Speakers included several SCCA doctors who addressed wide range of topics including the diagnosis of MDS, the treatment of MDS (including transplant and non-transplant treatments), and living with blood diseases. Click here to view the video transcripts from the conference.