María Díez Campelo: Expert Profile & Insights
Improving quality of Life in Lower-Risk MDS: Insights from the IMerge Trial and Future Research Directions
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Mar-a-dez Campelo, MD, PhD, discusses the impact of imetelstat on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and outlines crucial areas for future investigation.
dr. Mar-a-dez Campelo, MD, PhD, recently presented findings on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes for patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated with imetelstat in the IMerge trial.Her presentation at the European Hematology Association 2025 Congress in Milan highlighted the significant potential of imetelstat too improve patients’ daily lives. This discussion delves into how these findings might influence real-world treatment decisions and identifies key areas for future research.
Enhancing real-World Treatment Decisions with HRQoL Data
The primary goal of treating lower-risk MDS extends beyond simply increasing hemoglobin levels to reduce transfusion dependence. As Dr. Campelo emphasizes, the ultimate aim is to improve a patient’s quality of life, enabling them to return to their normal daily activities and feel better overall.
“this is very vital because we need to increase hemoglobin levels to reduce transfusions, but the main goal for every treatment is to improve quality of life, and that, the patient feels better to do all activities,” Dr. Campelo stated. “Our goal should be [for these patients] to return to [their] normal [everyday lives]. This is the smallest step to reach this goal,so I think it’s important to take this into account.”
For patients with lower-risk MDS, achieving improved overall survival can be challenging, notably in the relapsed/refractory setting. Therefore, demonstrating the tangible benefits of a treatment in terms of how the patient feels and their ability to engage in activities is paramount.
“it’s very difficult sometimes for the patients with lower-risk MDS to have an improved overall survival. So, we don’t have this goal in the relapsed/ refractory setting,” Dr. Campelo explained. “With the treatment, we have to convey that this treatment is beneficial for the patient, because they are going to feel better, do more activities, and [it will] have a positive effect on the emotional, physical, and psychological settings. It’s important, I think, for the patient and also for the doctor to bridge this world.”
By integrating HRQoL data into treatment discussions, clinicians can better communicate the comprehensive benefits of therapies like imetelstat, fostering a more patient-centered approach to care.
Future Research: Refining Measures and Expanding Scope
while the IMerge trial provides valuable insights into imetelstat’s impact on HRQoL, Dr. Campelo identified several critical areas for future research to build upon these findings.
Improving measurement Tools for Patient-Reported Outcomes
A key challenge in assessing HRQoL is the ongoing development and refinement of measurement tools. Dr. Campelo stressed the need for improved instruments to accurately capture the benefits experienced by patients.
“We have to continue to address these measures of quality of life and patient-related experiences as I think the tools are still ongoing and need to be improved,” she noted. “sometimes, we don’t realise that we are not able to measure this benefit very well in the patient. I think that we have to improve the measures, the tools, for this analysis, and to clearly seperate the benefit of the patients [who] are responding to the drug from those patients not responding to the drug.”
Furthermore, future studies should aim to more precisely correlate treatment benefits with patient response to the drug, ensuring that observed improvements are directly attributable to the therapy. “The benefit is clearly associated with responses, and we have to better measure the benefit in responding patients,” Dr. Campelo added.
Addressing the Impact on Caregivers
Beyond the patient’s direct experience, Dr. Campelo highlighted the significant, yet often overlooked, impact of MDS treatments on caregivers. As patients may require assistance with appointments and treatments, understanding the benefits for caregivers is crucial for a holistic approach.
“I think that we have to still keep treatment ongoing in this line, and also we have to address other relevant implications for the patient, [like] the impact on caregivers, because sometimes the patient needs a caregiver for the consultants and the treatments,” Dr. Campelo stated. “We also have to address the benefit of these treatments in caregivers, because they always need a caregiver, and we have to take [this] into account because the patient’