Clinical applicability of the evaluation of minimal residual disease in acute leukemia.
Modern chemotherapy can place most patients with acute leukemia into remission. Unfortunately, many of these patients will subsequently relapse. The study of minimal residual disease focuses on the detection of patients destined to relapse despite appearing to be in clinical remission. In addition, the research has demonstrated that some patients appear to co-exist with their leukemia for years, and this suggests a need to re-examine what it means to be "cured" of leukemia. We await trials testing the intervention of "molecular relapse." Data appear to be sufficient to launch such trials in diseases such as pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the t(1 5;1 7) acute myeloid leukemia.
Radich
J P
JP
Program in Genetics, Clinical Research Division, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024, USA. jradich@fhcrc.org
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm