Abstract
Detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in follow-up samples from patients with ALL is essential for evaluation of treatment response. We applied multicolor flow cytometry and real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) to compare MRD results in 71 follow-up samples from 22 children treated for ALL. When results obtained by flow cytometry and RQ-PCR were grouped into positive–negative categories, a significant level of agreement was found in 72% of samples (P<0.001). However, if a cutoff level of 0.01% was applied, the concordance was 89%. MRD could be quantified in 19 samples by both methods, showing a strong correlation (P<0.01). Nevertheless, MRD levels differed more than five-fold between both methods in 4/19 samples. In 20 (28%) samples, the two techniques showed discordant results. Most discordant results (17/20) were due to the limited sensitivity of flow cytometry analysis within the range 0.01–0.001%; remaining discordant results were due to the instable or subclonal IG/TCR gene rearrangements or a limited quantitative range of the applied RQ-PCR targets. Although concordant results could be obtained by flow cytometry and RQ-PCR analysis, MRD levels may differ. Therefore, MRD data obtained by these two techniques are not yet easily exchangeable.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by grants from The Swedish Children's Cancer Foundation and Stockholḿs County Council. The excellent technical assistance of Marianne Lestrin, Britt Lundh, Shalah Tarahumi, Margareta Söderqvist and Margareta Waern is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Professor Dr Jacques JM van Dongen for his continuous support and for critically reviewing the manuscript.
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Malec, M., van der Velden, V., Björklund, E. et al. Analysis of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: comparison between RQ-PCR analysis of Ig/TcR gene rearrangements and multicolor flow cytometric immunophenotyping. Leukemia 18, 1630–1636 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403444
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403444
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