Publication:

Establishment and validation of a standard protocol for the detection of minimal residual disease in B lineage childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia by flow cytometry in a multi-center setting (2009)

Author(s): Irving JAE, Jesson J, Virgo P, Case MC, Minto CLJ, Eyre L, Noel N, Johansson U, Macey M, Knotts L, Helliwell M, Davies P, Whitby L, Barnett D, Hancock J, Goulden N, Lawson S

    Abstract: Minimal residual disease detection, used for clinical management of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, can be performed by molecular analysis of antigen-receptor gene rearrangements or by flow cytometric analysis of aberrant immunophenotypes. For flow minimal residual disease to be incorporated into larger national and international trials, a quality assured, standardized method is needed which can be performed in a multi-center setting. We report a four color, flow cytometric protocol established and validated by the UK acute lymphoblastic leukemia Flow minimal residual disease group. Quality assurance testing gave high inter-laboratory agreement with no values differing from a median consensus value by more than one point on a logarithmic scale. Prospective screening of B-ALL patients (n=206) showed the method was applicable to 88.3% of patients. The minimal residual disease in bone marrow aspirates was quantified and compared to molecular data. The combined risk category concordance (minimal residual disease levels above or below 0.01%) was 86% (n=134). Thus, this standardized protocol is highly reproducible between laboratories, sensitive, applicable, and shows good concordance with molecular-based analysis.

    Notes: On behalf of the UKALL Flow MRD group and UK MRD steering group

    • Type of Article: Brief Report
    • Journal: Haematologica
    • Volume: 94
    • Issue: 6
    • Pages: 870-874
    • Publisher: Fondazione Ferrata Storti
    • Publication type: Article
    • Bibliographic status: Published

    Keywords: childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia minimal residual disease flow cytometry

    Staff

    Dr Julie Irving
    Reader in Experimental Haematology