Minimal Residual Disease by Next-Generation Sequencing: Pros and Cons

Abstract

The wealth of data recently generated highlights that minimal residual disease (MRD)–negative status can be achieved in a large proportion of patients. These studies, in addition to a meta-analysis, clearly suggest significant improvement in both event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) among those patients achieving MRD–negative status, especially with sensitivity of one cell in 1 million bone marrow cells. There is an evolving consensus that achieving MRD–negative status should become the ultimate goal of therapeutic intervention. Further future efforts should now be directed at determining how MRD status can be used to guide and personalize further therapy including type of consolidation and maintenance therapy.