Characteristics of the 3 classical MRD methods
| MRD technique . | Conventional flow cytometry . | RQ-PCR of IG/TR genes or breakpoint regions of . | RQ-PCR of fusion transcripts and other aberrances . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated sensitivity | 3-4 colors: 10−3-10−4 | 10−4-10−5 | 10−4-10−6 |
| 6-8 colors: 10−4 | |||
| Applicability | BCP-ALL: >90% | BCP-ALL: 95% | BCP-ALL: 25-40% (age dependent) |
| T-ALL: >90% | T-ALL: 90-95% | T-ALL: 10-15% | |
| Advantages | Fast Analysis at cell population level or single cell level Easy storage of data Information about the whole sample cellularity | Applicable in virtually all BCP-ALL and T-ALL Sensitive Well standardized + regular international QA rounds | Relatively easy Sensitive Applicable for specific leukemia subgroups, such as BCR-ABL or MLL-AF4 |
| Disadvantages | Variable sensitivity, because of similarities between normal (regenerating) cells and malignant cells Limited standardization, no QA results | Time-consuming Expensive Requires extensive experience and knowledge | Limited standardization (only harmonization) Limited QA rounds (with conversion factors) Limited applicability in ALL (absence of targets in >50% of cases) Risk of contamination |
| MRD technique . | Conventional flow cytometry . | RQ-PCR of IG/TR genes or breakpoint regions of . | RQ-PCR of fusion transcripts and other aberrances . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated sensitivity | 3-4 colors: 10−3-10−4 | 10−4-10−5 | 10−4-10−6 |
| 6-8 colors: 10−4 | |||
| Applicability | BCP-ALL: >90% | BCP-ALL: 95% | BCP-ALL: 25-40% (age dependent) |
| T-ALL: >90% | T-ALL: 90-95% | T-ALL: 10-15% | |
| Advantages | Fast Analysis at cell population level or single cell level Easy storage of data Information about the whole sample cellularity | Applicable in virtually all BCP-ALL and T-ALL Sensitive Well standardized + regular international QA rounds | Relatively easy Sensitive Applicable for specific leukemia subgroups, such as BCR-ABL or MLL-AF4 |
| Disadvantages | Variable sensitivity, because of similarities between normal (regenerating) cells and malignant cells Limited standardization, no QA results | Time-consuming Expensive Requires extensive experience and knowledge | Limited standardization (only harmonization) Limited QA rounds (with conversion factors) Limited applicability in ALL (absence of targets in >50% of cases) Risk of contamination |