If a patient is found to be MRD-positive, what is one potential therapeutic decision physicians might make?

Answer

Deciding to administer Consolidation Therapy immediately to target remaining cells

When a patient tests positive for Minimal Residual Disease (MRD-positive), it signals that the initial treatment regimen was successful at eliminating the bulk of the cancer but failed to eradicate every single malignant cell. This positive result presents a crucial window for intervention. Physicians frequently respond by deciding that a subsequent, more intensive round of treatment, known as Consolidation Therapy, is required. This extra push is designed specifically to target and eliminate that small population of surviving cancer cells before they have the chance to multiply sufficiently to cause a full, clinically apparent relapse. Alternatively, it might prompt the continuation or adjustment of Maintenance Therapy.

If a patient is found to be MRD-positive, what is one potential therapeutic decision physicians might make?

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