Dr. Radich on the Evolving Role of MRD in Hematologic Malignancies

Jerald P. Radich, MD, member, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and professor, University of Washington School of Medicine, discusses how the role of minimal residual disease (MRD) has evolved recently in clinical trials of hematologic malignancies.

MRD is measuring the disease burden, says Radich. It is used to define a patient’s response to therapy. However, not only is it used to predict relapse, but it can also be used to get an understanding of how some therapies may be more active than other therapies.

The FDA began to use MRD as an early marker of response, but now a lot of work is being down in acute leukemias using MRD as an endpoint in clinical trials. This is also being used in some chronic leukemias, as well. MRD has been strongly associated with later outcomes, Radich says.