Abstract： Objective To explore the relationship of minimal residual disease(MRD) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) to the clinic and prognosis.Methods A total of 102 cases of MRD in childhood ALL(28 cases in low-risk group,50 in medium-risk group and 24 in high-risk group)were treated with ALL-XH-99 protocol and were followed-up for 6-28 months.CD45/SSC gating dual-parameter three-color flow cytometry(FCM) was used to monitor MRD in children who achieved CR at the end of induction therapy or at 6 months after initiating chemotherapy.Results There were significant differences in MRD-positive rate among the three groups at the end of induction therapy and at 6 months after initiating chemotherapy(P<0.05 and P<0.01,respectively).MRD-positive rate in high-risk group was significantly higher than that in medium-risk group or low-risk group(P<0.05 and P<0.01).Moreover,the relapse rate in MRD-positive patients was obviously higher than that in MRD-negative patients(P<0.05 and P<0.001).Conclusion The detection of MRD can help to determine the efficacy and prognosis of childhood ALL.
2011, Vol. 53 
