About MRD
Measurable residual disease (MRD) is a test that looks for any small number of cancer cells left in your body after treatment is complete. It may find cancer cells even when standard tests show no signs of cancer.
It is frequently used for people with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL), while less used in people with chronic leukaemias, lymphoma, and myeloma.
The purpose of an MRD test
MRD is assessed to help your treatment team work out how you have responded to treatment. It will help them make decisions about future treatment type and intensity.
Three tests are available to assess MRD. They are:
- flow cytometry
- polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Flow cytometry requires a bone marrow sample, whereas PCR and NGS need either a bone marrow or blood sample for MRD assessment.
How often you have MRD test depends on your type of blood cancer and your treatment. You can discuss this with your treatment team.
MRD results
Your MRD test will come back as either positive or negative.
Negative MRD means there is no measurable disease detected. This is a good sign and is linked to a lower risk of relapse.
Positive MRD means the test has detected cancer cells. This result can be linked to a higher risk of relapse.
It’s important to remember that results are interpreted alongside other tests, and individual factors are considered before treatment plans or directions change.
MRD helps your healthcare team choose the treatment that’s right for you. It shows, for instance, whether any cancer cells remain and helps guide decisions to reduce the chance of the disease coming back. This information supports selecting the most effective treatment to give you the best possible chance for a strong response and a good outcome.
Your treatment team will discuss your MRD results with you.
If you’d like support you can contact a Leukaemia Foundation Healthcare Professional.
