Dr. Roeker on the Emerging Role of MRD in CLL

Lindsey Roeker, MD, hematologic oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the emerging role of minimal residual disease (MRD) as a predictive end point in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Understanding how to optimize MRD is developing in CLL, Roeker says. Clinical trials evaluating combined-modality regimens are including MRD as a predictive end point for response, Roeker explains.

A correlation between MRD negativity and prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) has been observed in patients with CLL treated with chemoimmunotherapy, Roeker says. Additionally, findings from the phase 3 MURANO trial (NCT02005471) demonstrated that undetectable MRD (uMRD) was associated with improved PFS, as well as overall survival, in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL, Roeker adds.

Additional research with ongoing trials is needed to determine whether uMRD can predict for long-term PFS benefit or whether fixed-duration treatment is a sufficient and simpler way to treat patients with CLL, Roeker concludes.