The panel discussed various aspects related to the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and flow cytometry for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in patients with various types of leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They touched upon the challenges and benefits of using NGS for detecting MRD at greater detection depths.
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The question arose as to whether flow cytometry-based MRD assessment could be replaced by NGS-based methods, especially considering that NGS might mix populations of cells. It was noted that there is a portion of patients, about ten percent, who cannot be clonotypic ally assessed by NGS due to factors like primitive stem cell-like phenotypes.