What is the primary value derived from identifying residual disease, especially MRD?

Answer

Profound impact on prognosis and planning of future care strategies

The primary utility of detecting residual disease, particularly in its minimal form (MRD), lies in its substantial predictive power regarding the patient's future outcome and guiding subsequent therapeutic steps. The presence of even trace amounts of cancer cells after initial therapy serves as a strong prognostic indicator, suggesting an elevated risk of the cancer eventually returning or relapsing clinically. Armed with this knowledge, physicians can make proactive, informed decisions regarding intensifying treatment—such as initiating consolidation therapy to target those few remaining cells before they proliferate—or adjusting maintenance therapy regimens to keep the disease suppressed, thereby optimizing the long-term outlook.

What is the primary value derived from identifying residual disease, especially MRD?

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