Minimal residual disease testing in hematologic malignancies and solid cancer

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Minimal residual disease (MRD) assays are valuable tools for assessing treatment efficacy and prognosis in cancer management.
• The advent of targeted therapies has highlighted the importance of MRD monitoring, transforming patient care.
• Established guidelines exist for certain leukemias, but further development is needed for comprehensive application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the applications of MRD assays in common hematologic malignancies and solid cancers.
• To provide an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of various MRD detection methods.
• To emphasize the need for standardization and quality control in MRD monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of MRD assay applications in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
• Analysis of existing guidelines and recommendations for MRD monitoring.
• Evaluation of different methodologies used for MRD detection.

Main Results:

• MRD assays offer significant prognostic and therapeutic monitoring capabilities across various cancers.
• Standardization, external quality control, and clear data interpretation guidelines are critical for reliable MRD monitoring.
• Different MRD assays possess distinct advantages and limitations depending on the specific malignancy.

Conclusions:

• MRD monitoring is a cornerstone of modern cancer management, particularly with targeted therapies.
• Continued efforts in standardization and quality assurance are necessary to optimize MRD assay performance and interpretation.
• This review highlights the diverse utility and methodological considerations of MRD assays in oncology.