Levels of residual disease (RD) are an independent predictor of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Researchers at the Flow Cytometry Unit, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia, have modified the international standardized approach (ISA) to RD detection using flow cytometry by developing a single tube 10 color antibody assay.
Dilution studies showed that sensitivity of 0.001% was achievable when a minimum of 1.8 × 106 total events were acquired.
Conclusion:
The single tube 10-color assay for the detection of RD in CLL provides equivalent results to the ISA but requires fewer cells, uses fewer reagents, and allows for simpler analysis. By directly removing contaminating events, it improves the accuracy of CLL RD detection and may reclassify the status of some patients following chemotherapy.
This is still a research project that may or may not become a commercial test...it is
likely a few years in the future....