Measurable Residual Disease in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Overview

Journal Haematologica

Specialty Hematology

Date 2022 Dec 1

PMID 36453517

Authors

Susan Branford

Jane F Apperley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia is characterized by a single genetic abnormality resulting in a fusion gene whose mRNA product is easily detected and quantified by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. Measuring residual disease was originally introduced to identify patients relapsing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation but rapidly adopted to quantify responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction is now an essential tool for the management of patients and is used to influence treatment decisions. In this review we track this development including the international collaboration to standardize results, discuss the integration of molecular monitoring with other factors that affect patients' management, and describe emerging technology. Four case histories describe varying scenarios in which the accurate measurement of residual disease identified patients at risk of disease progression and allowed appropriate investigations and timely clinical intervention.

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