Comparison of cross-platform flow cytometry minimal residual disease evaluation in multiple myeloma using a common antibody combination and analysis strategy.
BACKGROUND
A seven-color/eight-antibody approach has recently been proposed for the minimal residual disease (MRD) determination in multiple myeloma (MM), which was developed on FACSCantoII instruments. This strategy should be also applicable on different multiparameter flow cytometers (MFC), but this needs to be demonstrated before moving MRD assessment to local flow cytometry core facilities, nearer to patients, thereby reducing the risk of cell losses induced by sample transportation and delays in cell processing.


METHODS
To evaluate the comparability of testing the same seven-color/eight-antibody single-tube on any instruments, MRD was evaluated concomitantly on two distinct MFC in a cohort of 80 bone marrow MM samples (i.e., 73 patients including seven with two MRD evaluations) in two French centers, Paris-Cochin and Dijon.


RESULTS
No significant difference in the MM residual plasma-cells (MM-PCs) quantification was observed. Calculated on the basis of the whole amount of leukocytes assessed, the mean MRD percentage was, respectively, 0.1661% and 0.1458% using FACSCantoII or Navios instruments, with a very high correlation between instruments (r(2)  = 0.9798) and a very minimal bias (-0.02). Moreover, there was no difference in MRD interpretation at 10(-4) threshold; whereas three MRD interpretation discordances were observed at 2.5 × 10(-5) threshold.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that this MRD-detection strategy is transposable between harmonized ≥ seven-color instruments. This shows that a homogeneous rapid MRD evaluation can be performed in most MFC platforms, in the near vicinity of clinical wards. However, the clinical validation of this approach needs to be strengthened, as well as its relevance compared to molecular approaches.
Service d'Hématologie Biologique, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre Cochin, Paris, France; Inserm U1016, Université Paris Descartes, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Centre Cochin, Paris, France.
Stéphanie
S
Mathis
Nicolas
N
Chapuis
Jessica
J
Borgeot
Marc
M
Maynadié
Michaela
M
Fontenay
Marie-Christine
MC
Béné
Julien
J
Guy
Valérie
V
Bardet
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies
minimal residual disease; multiparameter flow cytometry; multiple myeloma; seven-color/eight-antibody approach