Optimized Flow Cytometry Incorporating t-SNE Enables Minimal Residual Disease Assessment in a Philadelphia...

Unsupervised machine learning shows significant promise for evaluating multicolor flow cytometry, particularly in advancing minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis. We implemented t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE)-assisted MRD analysis in a challenging case of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This approach enabled us to identify MRD on an unbiased basis with a sensitivity comparable to that of genetic analysis while simultaneously reducing the workload. t-SNE is a valuable tool for the detection and verification of MRD, with its effectiveness significantly enhanced through the integration of optimized antibody panels, data preprocessing, and rigorous back-gating verification.