Technologies

Researchers at St. Jude have identified a set of twenty two markers that predicts minimal residual disease in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. MRD detection by flow cytometry with these antibodies correlated well with those of molecular testing, which is more expensive and requires technical expertise. When used in 6-marker combinations, the new markers can detect one leukemic cell among 105 bone marrow cells, as compared to standard 4-color cytometry that detects one leukemic cell in 104 normal cells.
Related scientific references: Coustan-Smith E, Song G, Clark C, Key L, Liu P, Mehrpooya M, Stow P, Su X, Shurtleff S, Pui CH, Downing JR, Campana D; New markers for minimal residual disease detection in acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Blood. 2011 Apr 12.