Enhancing MRD Testing in Hematologic Malignancies: When Negativity is a Positive Thing

Enhancing MRD Testing in Hematologic Malignancies: When Negativity is a Positive Thing is organized by i3 Health.

Dates Available:
February 20, 2024 - February 19, 2025

Statement of Need:
Measurable residual disease (MRD) is defined as the persistence of cancer cells at levels below morphologic detection after treatment. For patients with hematologic malignancies, MRD testing is increasingly being used to predict disease progression, monitor disease status, and evaluate treatment options (Dekker et al, 2023). Questions about current and future roles of MRD testing abound, including validation of assays, such as next-generation sequencing, machine learning, and flow cytometry; standardization of collection methods and modalities; considerations for clinical trial design and statistical analyses; and improved understanding of the roles of MRD status and depth of response across hematologic malignancies (Dekker et al, 2023; Baines et al, 2023). It is critical for members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team to stay up-to-date on the latest data regarding the clinical utility of MRD testing in prognosis and treatment. In this CME-approved activity, Noopur Raje, MD, Director of the Center for Multiple Myeloma at Massachusetts General Cancer Center, will explore the current and emerging roles of MRD testing in hematologic malignancies.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Distinguish the advantages and limitations of current MRD detection methods
• Evaluate consensus recommendations on indications for MRD testing in hematologic malignancies
• Explain the current and potential roles of MRD status and depth of response as a biomarker in clinical trials
• Describe mechanisms of drug resistance/loss of response to BCMA-directed therapies
• Assess the clinical utility of MRD in prognosis and treatment of selected hematologic malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma