Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a hot topic in the world of oncology and many talks on the topic were made at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2017 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, GA. Speaking from the meeting, Irene Ghobrial, MD, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, discusses MRD, which she describes as the new standard to be used in the management multiple myeloma (MM). Dr Ghobrial highlights how MRD negative disease is surpassing complete remission as an indicator of response; she then explores whether MRD status should change the treatment given to patients. Studies have shown that those with MRD negative disease have improved progression-free and overall survival; thus, could an increased understanding of MRD be the answer to curative treatment?
The rise of MRD in multiple myeloma: could this be an answer to a cure?
