Schematic representation to illustrate the paradigm of the deeper the response, the longer the (progression-free) survival (filled lines). However, distinct biological subgroups exist, and their clinical course may differ from the paradigm (dotted lines): a, those patients with a baseline MGUS-like signature and prolonged survival irrespectively of CR; b, those patients with unsustained CR (high-risk cytogenetics and persistent MRD); c, MRD-positive patients who may also experience extended outcomes if small residual clones are quiescent (MGUS-like) or under control (eg, by immune cells); d, an MRD-negative result does not preclude the risk of relapse, and optimization of MRD monitoring together with follow-up MRD studies are likely crucial to predict relapses early on; e, long-term disease control (ie, functional cure) could potentially be achieved if therapy eradicates (detectable) MRD levels. This is a hypothetical model, which does not translate to the real behavior of individual patients.