Targeting Minimal Residual Disease Emerges as a Viable Path Toward Cancer Cure
This Nature Reviews Cancer perspective examines how new functional approaches can characterize clonal heterogeneity and predict therapeutic sensitivity of minimal residual disease at the single-cell level. Despite dramatic responses to targeted therapies including kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockers, most patients retain MRD that drives relapse. The authors present preliminary evidence that iterative detection, profiling, and targeting of MRD could meaningfully improve outcomes and potentially achieve cure.
The original study
Targeting minimal residual disease: a path to cure?
- Authors
- Luskin MR, Murakami MA, Manalis SR, Weinstock DM
- Journal
- Nature reviews. Cancer
- Type
- Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review
- PMID
- 29376520
Original abstract
Therapeutics that block kinases, transcriptional modifiers, immune checkpoints and other biological vulnerabilities are transforming cancer treatment. As a result, many patients achieve dramatic responses, including complete radiographical or pathological remission, yet retain minimal residual disease (MRD), which results in relapse. New functional approaches can characterize clonal heterogeneity and predict therapeutic sensitivity of MRD at a single-cell level. Preliminary evidence suggests that iterative detection, profiling and targeting of MRD would meaningfully improve outcomes and may even lead to cure.