Dr. Hill Discusses Biomarker Research in MCL

Brian T. Hill, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Hematology and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses biomarker research in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

It is known that remission has been achieved by conventional criteria. There is a lot of interest in minimal residual disease (MRD) testing for MCL, explains Hill, as MRD testing has become more integrated into clinical trials. For example, if a patient achieves a remission and is MRD negative for frontline chemotherapy, they could be eligible for the current cooperative group trial. This trial randomizes patients to autologous stem cell transplant or rituximab (Rituxan) maintenance therapy instead of transplant.

According to Hill, going forward, achieving MRD is going to be an important goal that will be an integral part of designing future prospective biomarker trials for MCL.