Highly sensitive MRD tests for ALL based on the IKZF1 Δ3–6 microdeletion

Abstract

Current clinical trials for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) depend upon the measurement of minimal residual disease (MRD) at early stages of therapy to determine the risk of relapse for each patient who is being used for treatment stratification.1 PCR-based MRD tests are usually designed to detect the specific rearrangements of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (Ig/TCR) genes found in the leukemic clone. We now present evidence supporting the hypothesis that the most common deletion in the IKZF1 gene in ALL also provides the basis for highly sensitive MRD tests that give MRD results in close agreement with Ig/TCR MRD markers.