MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASES Meaning and
Definition
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Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) refers to the presence of small amounts of cancer cells that remain in the body after treatment, despite the absence of any detectable signs or symptoms of the disease. These cells are often too few to be observed using traditional clinical assessment methods such as physical examinations or imaging tests. MRD monitoring is commonly employed to assess the effectiveness of cancer treatments and to predict the likelihood of disease recurrence.
MRD testing techniques are highly sensitive and aim to identify and quantify the residual cancer cells by using specialized laboratory methods such as flow cytometry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or sequencing technologies. These techniques allow for the detection of extremely low levels of cancer-specific genetic or protein markers that are indicative of the presence of minimal residual disease.
The measurement of MRD is particularly valuable in hematological malignancies like leukemia or lymphoma, where disease burden tends to consist of vast numbers of cancer cells. By accurately quantifying residual cancer cells, clinicians can evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, make informed decisions regarding further therapy options, and define a patient's risk of relapse. MRD status is often used as an additional criterion to complement traditional staging systems in order to refine prognosis and treatment strategies.
In summary, minimal residual disease refers to the small number of remaining cancer cells that persist in the body after therapy, which can be detected using highly sensitive laboratory techniques. Monitoring MRD enables doctors to assess treatment response and predict the likelihood of disease recurrence in cancer patients.
Common Misspellings for MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASES
- ninimal residual diseases
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- mibimal residual diseases
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- mihimal residual diseases
- minumal residual diseases
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- minomal residual diseases
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- min8mal residual diseases
- mininal residual diseases
