Minimal residual disease is common after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and may be controlled by graft-versus-host disease

Comparative analysis of minimal residual disease detection using four-color flow cytometry, consensus IgH-PCR, and quantitative IgH PCR in CLL after allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation

“…This observation agrees with the delayed clearance of CLL cells after allogeneic SCT reported before. [13][14][15]18,33 In general, MRD was not detectable during later follow-up, the only exception being a patient who eventually had to be retreated. In all patients after allogeneic SCT studied in parallel by MRD flow and by ASO IgH RQ-PCR, both methods showed the same MRD kinetics.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] At the same time with the advent of purine analogs, 7 monoclonal antibodies, [8][9][10] autologous 11,12 and allogeneic SCT, [13][14][15] molecular remissions became an attainable therapeutic goal. These effective therapies and the known heterogeneity of the disease increased the importance of minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment as a surrogate marker for treatment efficiency in clinical studies.…”

“…These effective therapies and the known heterogeneity of the disease increased the importance of minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment as a surrogate marker for treatment efficiency in clinical studies. 10,12,[14][15][16][17][18] Currently, immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) PCR assays with allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) primers are accepted as the most sensitive technique for MRD detection in CLL. 14,17,19,20 Real-time PCR using such ASO primers allows the quantitation of one CLL cell in 10 4 -10 5 cells.…”

“…10,12,[14][15][16][17][18] Currently, immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) PCR assays with allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) primers are accepted as the most sensitive technique for MRD detection in CLL. 14,17,19,20 Real-time PCR using such ASO primers allows the quantitation of one CLL cell in 10 4 -10 5 cells. [21][22][23] A more rapid, but less sensitive and not quantitative method for MRD detection in CLL is PCR using consensus IgH-primers (consensus IgH-PCR).…”

Stem cell transplantation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: different outcome after autologous and allogeneic transplantation and correlation with minimal residual disease status

“…Moreover, an increase of MRD, as assessed by the quantitative estimation by cytofluorometry of the leukemic population, was evident in further analyses of all patients in whom MRD became detectable. In the remaining five patients, no evidence of MRD was observed at last assessment, after a median follow-up of 24 months (range, [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. At the time of writing, six patients have had a clinical relapse at a median of 16 months (range, 9-38) after transplant.…”