Measurable residual disease (MRD) testing for acute leukemia in EBMT transplant centers: a survey on behalf of the ALWP of the EBMT.

Nagler, Arnon; Baron, Frédéric; Labopin, Myriam; Polge, Emmanuel; Esteve, Jordi; Bazarbachi, Ali; Brissot, Eolia; Bug, Gesine; Ciceri, Fabio; Giebel, Sebastian; Gilleece, Maria H; Gorin, Norbert-Claude; Lanza, Francesco; Peric, Zinaida; Ruggeri, Annalisa; Sanz, Jaime; Savani, Bipin N; Schmid, Christoph; Shouval, Roni; Spyridonidis, Alexandros; Versluis, Jurjen; Mohty, Mohamad

Detectable measurable residual disease (MRD) is a key prognostic factor in both acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Thus, we conducted a survey in EBMT transplant centers focusing on pre- and post-allo-HCT MRD. One hundred and six centers from 29 countries responded. One hundred had a formal strategy for routine MRD assessment, 91 for both ALL and AML. For ALL (n = 95), assessing MRD has been routine practice starting from 2010 (range, 1990-2019). Techniques used for MRD assessment consisted of PCR techniques alone (n = 27), multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC, n = 16), both techniques (n = 43), next-generation sequencing (NGS) + PCR (n = 2), or PCR + MFC + NGS (n = 7). The majority of centers assessed MRD every 2-3 months for 2 (range, 1-until relapse) years. For AML, assessing MRD was routine in 92 centers starting in 2010 (range 1990-2019). Assessment of MRD was by PCR (n = 23), MFC (n = 13), both PCR and MFC (n = 39), both PCR and NGS (n = 3), and by all three techniques (n = 14). The majority assesses MRD for AML every 2-3 months for 2 (range, 1-until relapse) years. This survey is the first step in the aim to include MRD status as a routine registry capture parameter in acute leukemia.