What is Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)?

Minimal Residual Disease, sometimes called Measurable Residual Disease or MRD, refers to the small number of myeloma cells that may remain after treatment, even when standard tests show remission. 

Detecting these cells is crucial because they can lead to relapse. They can also be an early indication of a biological relapse, which, if detected, can be acted upon proactively.  

MRD testing uses advanced techniques like flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect one cancer cell among 100,000 to 1 million healthy cells. Sections in this guide will detail these tests to better understand how they work and the results. 

The following video can help you understand minimal residual disease. You can find additional resources to deepen your understanding of this section later on in the “Continue Your Learning” subsection.