title: Detection of minimal residual disease in hematologic malignancies by real-time quantitative PCR: principles, approaches, and laboratory aspects.
abstract: Detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) has prognostic value in many hematologic malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Quantitative MRD data can be obtained with real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) analysis of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements, breakpoint fusion regions of chromosome aberrations, fusion-gene transcripts, aberrant genes, or aberrantly expressed genes, their application being dependent on the type of disease. RQ-PCR analysis can be performed with SYBR Green I, hydrolysis (TaqMan) probes, or hybridization (LightCycler) probes, as detection system in several RQ-PCR instruments. Dependent on the type of MRD-PCR target, different types of oligonucleotides can be used for specific detection, such as an allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probe, an ASO forward primer, an ASO reverse primer, or germline probe and primers. To assess the quantity and quality of the RNA/DNA, one or more control genes must be included. Finally, the interpretation of RQ-PCR MRD data needs standardized criteria and reporting of MRD data needs international uniformity. Several European networks have now been established and common guidelines for data analysis and for reporting of MRD data are being developed. These networks also include standardization of technology as well as regular quality control rounds, both being essential for the introduction of RQ-PCR-based MRD detection in multicenter clinical treatment protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr Molewaterplein 50, Rotterdam 3015 GE, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: V H J
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: van der Velden
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hochhaus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Szczepanski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gabert
authors.forename: J J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Dongen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm