Flow cytometric follow-up of minimal residual disease in bone marrow gives prognostic information in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Using flow cytometry (FC) and live gate (LG) analysis we have followed levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) in the bone marrow (BM) of 70 consecutive patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (59 B precursor ALL and 11 T-ALL) treated according to the Nordic (NOPHO-92) protocols. Thorough studies of B and T cell antigen expression patterns in normal BM performed during BIOMED 1 Concerted Action on MRD, made it possible to tailor individual protocols of marker combinations for follow-up in 97% of patients. In 12% of LG analyses, the numbers of cells exceeded 10(6) and in 82% exceeded 10(5), giving the sensitivity level of MRD detection 10(-5) and 10(-4), respectively. The median follow-up time was 53 months. Patients with MRD levels > or = 0.01% at follow-up time-points during and after first induction, and at the end of treatment had significantly lower disease-free survival by comparison to patients with MRD values <0.01%. Seven of nine patient with recurrence in the BM showed under treatment persisting MRD levels > or = 0.01% of BM cells. This was also observed in another two patients with infant leukemia who relapsed. In conclusion, the investigation of levels and the dynamics of MRD by sensitive and quantitative FC can provide a basis for further clinical studies for at least upgrading of therapy.