Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Prognostic Significance of Minimal Residual Disease and Potential of Modern Methods of Its Diagnosis and Therapy (Literature Review)

Achieving a complete remission (CR) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has become a feasible goal directly correlating with a prolonged survival. However, a certain number of tumor cells may be present in the patient’s body even when CR has been achieved, and this phenomenon is called a minimal residual disease (MRD). A lot of data confirming the necessity of MRD diagnosing and monitoring has emerged recently, since the MRD has a significant impact on the prognosis of CLL. Achieving MRD-negative remission is an independent predictor of long-term progression-free survival and overall survival. The occurrence of new diagnostic techniques has allowed to define the MRD and to develop standards for its assessment. This paper presents an overview of literature data about MRD, methods of its evaluation, prognostic significance, as well as the methods of eradication.