Minimal residual disease detection in multiple myeloma: current status, challenges and strategies / 白血病·淋巴瘤

ABSTRACT

Long time clinical results have showed that multiple myeloma (MM) patients who achieved complete remission (CR) had heterogeneous prognosis. Some patients who achieved CR relapsed in a short time, even died within 2 years after initial therapy, while other patients acquired long-term survival. With the emergence of minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment, rigorous personal therapy monitoring and accurate prognostic evaluation could be realized. MRD can monitor inside the bone marrow by multi-parameter flow cytometry, allele-specific oligonucleotide-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing, as well as the external conditions of the bone marrow by sensitive imaging techniques. This article focuses on clinical benefit, characteristics of different monitoring methods and future direction of MRD in MM.