In Multiple Myeloma, Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Is an Early Predictor of Progression and Is Modulated By Maintenance Therapy with Lenalidomide

Background.Minimal residual disease (MRD) detection by multi-parameter flow cytometry (MFC) and real time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) is highly predictive of outcome in multiple myeloma (MM) patients (pts). Less is known on the ability of maintenance therapy to modulate MRD levels. The primary end-point of this study was to monitor MRD during maintenance therapy and to evaluate the impact on outcome.