The speed of sequencing: Rapid molecular testing in acute myeloid leukaemia

Rapid molecular testing has become increasingly important in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), where timely identification of disease defining, prognostic and actionable genetic abnormalities directly influence early clinical management. Castellet et al. demonstrate that a centralized rapid molecular screening programme for newly diagnosed AML patients has benefit in reliably identifying favourable-risk patients and potentially actionable therapeutic targets. They show that rapid molecular testing is complementary, although it should not replace comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS) and cytogenetic analysis-balancing curation of important genes and sequencing strategies. Commentary on: Helena Castellet, Rapid molecular screening of adult AML: Experience from the Spanish Grupo Cooperativo de Estudio y Tratamiento de las Leucemias Agudas y Mielodisplásicas (CETLAM) cooperative group. Br J Haematol 2026 (Online ahead of print). doi: 10.1111/bjh.70865.