Test then erase? Current status and future opportunities for Measurable Residual Disease testing in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acta Haematol. 2023 Nov 30. doi: 10.1159/000535463. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Measurable residual disease (MRD) test positivity during and after treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been associated with higher rates of relapse and worse overall survival. Current approaches for MRD testing are not standardized leading to inconsistent results and poor prognostication of disease. Pertinent studies evaluating AML MRD testing at specific times points, with various therapeutics and testing methods are presented.SUMMARY: AML is a set of diseases with different molecular and cytogenetic characteristics, and is often polyclonal with evolution over time. This genetic diversity poses a great challenge for a single AML MRD testing approach. The current ELN 2021 MRD guidelines recommend MRD testing by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in those with a validated molecular target or multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in all other cases. The benefit of MFC is the ability to use this method across disease subsets, at the relative expense of suboptimal sensitivity and specificity. AML MRD detection may be improved with molecular methods. Genetic characterization at AML diagnosis and relapse is now standard of care for appropriate therapeutic assignment, future initiatives will provide the evidence to support testing in remission to direct clinical interventions.KEY MESSAGES: The treatment options for patients with AML have expanded for specifi...
Source: Acta Haematologica - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research