 |  |  | | | | | Minimal residual disease (MRD) test | | | | |
| | Fifty years ago children diagnosed with leukaemia faced an almost certain death. Now, thanks to better treatment, eight out of ten children survive. We are convinced that the MRD test, coupled with improved treatments will soon help nine out of ten children survive.
Our researchers have worked tirelessly on this project for 20 years. The idea of the MRD test was initiated by Leukaemia Research funded Dr Nick Goulden and the late Professor Tony Oakhill. Thanks to continuous funding from Leukaemia Research, this test is now part of the current clinical trial across the UK.
The test detects Minimal Residual Disease – the minute numbers of leukaemic cells which would not have been detected under the microscope or by using older, less sensitive, tests.
Each MRD test costs £600. The trial will finish in 2009 but is already showing promising results. It is hoped that when finished the MRD test will become a standard part of NHS treatment for all children with leukaemia.
Results of the MRD test enable doctors to check how the child is responding to treatment and then adjust treatment accordingly, tailoring it to the needs of each child. It may be increased if leukaemia cells are still detectable to give the child the best chance of survival. On the other hand treatment may be decreased if no leukaemia can be detected, thus reducing the burden of treatment. In the past, children were given very intense treatment with toxic drugs to maximise the chances of survival. Thanks to the MRD test children can now be spared treatment that is unnecessary.
Every year samples from around 450 children at hospitals throughout the UK are analysed at four specialist centres in Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and London.
Leukaemia Research is already researching ways of performing MRD tests more cheaply and is looking to see if we can extend its use to adults affected by leukaemia. |
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| |  | The MRD test costs £600 and children typically are tested three times in their treatment |
| 450 children a year are newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and can be tested with MRD |
| Leukaemia Research has supported the MRD work from the beginning when it was only an idea taking it through early lab-based work, feasibility studies and now clinical trial |
| Leukaemia Research has invested close to £3.8million in the MRD trial |
| Dr Nick Goulden who was on the team 20 years ago is still working on this project with funding from Leukaemia Research |
| The test is carried out at the 22 UK centres treating childhood cancer; the samples are analysed in Bristol, Glasgow, London or Sheffield |
| Research was originally carried out in Bristol |
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