[Pjorg45]

Minimal residual disease (MRD) - how measured, tracked?

by Pjorg45 on Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:41 am

Does anyone understand how MRD is tested for and what the measurements are. Is this something that can be tracked like M Spike?
Thanks

Paul Jorgensen
Annapolis MD

[Beacon Staff]

Re: Minimal residual disease (MRD) - how measured, tracked?

by Beacon Staff on Tue Dec 03, 2013 9:41 am

Hi Paul,

This article published at The Beacon this summer has some information that should be helpful in answering your question:

https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2013/06/21/two-studies-investigate-minimal-residual-disease-multiple-myeloma/

See, in particular, the background section, which includes the following information:

Tests to determine whether or not a myeloma patient has minimal residual disease are carried out using using cells from a patient’s bone marrow.
The tests are typically conducted in cases where a patient has achieved a complete response based on urine and blood tests. The MRD tests are much more sensitive than urine and blood tests at detecting the presence of myeloma, and thus are a more accurate way of determining whether the patient has any remaining (residual) signs of disease.
Patients who have no signs of residual disease are described as being MRD-negative, while those with signs of residual disease in their marrow are categorized as MRD-positive.
According to Dr. Joaquin Martinez-Lopez from Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid, approximately 30 percent to 50 percent of myeloma patients reach a complete response with current treatments. “However, most of these patients continue to relapse due to persistence of minimal residual disease,” said Dr. Martinez-Lopez. “Therefore, more sensitive techniques are required to define response.”
One established method for measuring MRD in myeloma patients is a technique called multiparameter flow cytometry. A newer method, evaluated by Dr. Martinez-Lopez and his colleagues in the Spanish study, is called genetic deep sequencing.

As was mentioned in the article, there is no single accepted method for testing for minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma. However, researchers are currently working on developing standards for such testing.

The Beacon also has a tag (topic) page for articles with information related to minimal residual disease. You can find it here:

https://myelomabeacon.org/tag/minimal-residual-disease/

There is also an MRD tag page for ASH 2013 abstracts related to the subject,

https://myelomabeacon.org/tag/ash-2013-minimal-residual-disease/

[lys2012]

Re: Minimal residual disease (MRD) - how measured, tracked?

by lys2012 on Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:13 am

there is a trial for this at the cancer centre I go to. But... to be included and have your myeloma tracked for minimal residual disease they hospital needs a sample of your bone marrow from BEFORE you started treatment, so they can compare it after treatment. Unfortuneatly I am not eligible, I've had a lot of treatment and am now in remission.