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The MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory reflects on a year filled with milestones: innovations in diagnostics, groundbreaking research, sustainable initiatives, and the expansion of international collaborations defined 2024. We continue to set standards in the service of patients. In our annual review, we present key facts and figures, new methods for diagnostics and personalized patient care, award-winning projects, the nationwide sample transport service, and other highlights from the year.

Every day, we are in close contact with colleagues, who are sending their patients sample to our laboratory. While much of this communication takes place by phone, we are also seeing a steady increase in written inquiries via e-mail. However, since standard e-mail is not suitable for exchanging sensitive patient data, and as part of our effort to replace outdated analog methods like faxing, we have introduced KIM-Mail as an additional option to the MLL portal for diagnostic reports.

An accurate and rapid diagnosis of leukemia and other hematological neoplasms is crucial for the best possible treatment of affected patients. In cooperation with our service partner Gold Key Services (GKS), we have established the nationwide sample transport service of the MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory. Thanks to this service, samples can be delivered safely and reliably overnight to our laboratory in Munich. This also ensures that the test material arrives in optimal condition - for even more accurate diagnoses in the shortest possible time.

In a company like MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, which is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and research of leukemia and lymphoma, responsible human resources management is of paramount importance: the Human Resources department ensures that highly qualified employees are not only recruited but also continuously developed to the highest standards. This is essential to achieve the best possible results for the satisfaction of our donors and the benefit of our patients.

[Press release] Recognition at the German SME Summit - Ranga Yogeshwar honors MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory for innovative achievements.

Following the visit of a delegation from Mayo Clinic Laboratories to MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory in February and a group from ARUP Laboratories in October, a team from MLL has now traveled to the USA. A total of seven MLL representatives set off to visit the laboratories of the renowned Mayo Clinic Group in Rochester and the well-established ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City. Seven days and five flights later, they have a lot to tell.

From December 7 to 10, 2024, more than 30,000 professionals gathered at the 66th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Diego, California. As in previous years, MLL was represented by a team of experts at the event. In this article, we highlight the key insights from the seven MLL contributions presented at this year's ASH conference.

New Horizons in Leukemia Research: Focus on Selected Papers
In the journal Blood, Othman et al. report on the genetic profile of 1357 intensively treated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients harboring an NPM1 mutation. This data set, the largest to date for this entity, provides important insights into the prognostic value of recurrent co-mutations in NPM1-mutated AML.

The immunophenotyping team at MLL has validated a new ERIC-compliant flow cytometric antibody panel for routine use to expand MRD diagnostics in CLL. All relevant background and information can be found in our recent article.

New Horizons in Leukemia Research: Selected Papers in Focus: Do specific mutations associated with clonal hematopoiesis in peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) increase the risk of therapy-related myeloid neoplasia in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma after transplantation? Yan et al. investigated this question in the study presented.

New horizons in leukemia research - selected papers in focus: New findings on the prognostic significance of CEBPA mutations in adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) show that biallelic mutations are associated with a more favorable disease course. The study by Georgi et al. sheds light on the complex interactions between CEBPA mutation subsets and other genetic alterations to better assess risk and treatment outcomes for disease progression.

Measurable residual disease (MRD) is an important biomarker in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an indicator of prognosis and response to therapy. In this article, we explain how mutations in AML and other diseases can be detected with a sensitivity of 0.1%. From July 2024, we will offer a corresponding panel and thus expand our portfolio for follow-up examinations.

Chromosome analysis is an essential part of the diagnostics of malignant hematological diseases. It plays an important role in confirming the diagnostics, classification, prognosis assessment and therapy planning. The method is considered time-consuming and demanding, both laboratory-wise and in terms of evaluation and reporting. In addition to the continuous expansion of the automation of laboratory processes, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in chromosome analysis in particular enables a significant reduction in the reporting time as well as a more objective and sensitive assessment of chromosomal changes.

We take artificial intelligence (AI) for granted these days and often use it in our everyday lives without noticing. But what does this mean for diagnostics – today and in the future? At MLL, artificial intelligence is used in various areas of diagnostics and is constantly being further developed. This not only saves time but will also facilitate the training of new staff in the future and expand opportunities for global collaboration. The aim is to provide patients with easier access to precise and rapid diagnoses and thus access to the best possible therapy.

The Munich Leukemia Laboratory and the newly founded Institute of AI for Health (AIH) of the Helmholtz Center of Munich have agreed on comprehensive collaboration for research and development. The primary goal is the implementation of machine learning and artificial intelligence in various areas of leukemia diagnostics.

Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw how strongly digitalization is shaping our private and professional lives and will continue to do so in the future. This also applies to innovations for daily work in the paperless Munich Leukemia Laboratory (MLL), such as the complete digitalization of all medical findings in a constantly improving digital infrastructure. However, AI will mark a new era for medical diagnostic services as well.

Whether a search engine or digital assistant is involved, artificial intelligence (AI) has long been a part of our day-to-day work. There are success stories in imaging-based diagnostics thanks to AI as well. Preliminary studies, for example, indicate that the classification of medical findings using AI is equivalent to traditional methods.

Making a patient disease diagnosis on the basis of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data is a complex endeavor. To be able to make an exact diagnosis, medical professionals must be able to access all the available information pertaining to the specific genetic variants detected.

This year was marked by various challenges, including war, natural disasters, and inflation, yet we managed to make significant strides in research. Our research report reflects the tireless dedication and innovative spirit of MLL's team as we continue to push the boundaries of knowledge in the field of hematology.

Those who know us know that we always look ahead, push boundaries, and rarely stand still. We have reviewed the last scientific year and summarized our research highlights in the new Research Report 2022. Feel free to get caught up in our own passion and immerse yourself in our research with us. In 2022, we were once again energized, curious, and enthusiastic about advancing the best possible leukemia diagnostics for our patients. To further facilitate reading and to better convey our data, we have included various graphical representations and summaries and we hope you enjoy the content.

In AML and ALL the application of WHO classification and ELN guidelines requires a plethora of methods to determine the diagnostic and prognostic subgroup. Especially in ALL, many different subtypes have been described, which makes accurate diagnosis a challenge. However, in recent years, whole genome and whole transcriptome sequencing have emerged as comprehensive high-throughput techniques that allow for an accurate genetic characterization. This identification of patients’ genetic fingerprint is key to a precise diagnosis and the design of personalised cancer treatments.

Even though the last two years have been dominated by the pandemic, we have kept science firmly in our mind. Providing the best possible care for our oncology patients remains our heartfelt mission. After another scientifically successful year, we would like to take the opportunity to summarize our findings of 2021. To further facilitate reading and to better convey our data, we have included various graphical representations and summaries and we hope you enjoy the content.

Visualization of genomic and transcriptomic data is essential to easily exploring those large datasets for interpretation and hypothesis generation and can further help to uncover hidden patterns and trends. With the ongoing development of sequencing and computer technologies, it has become feasible for scientists and clinicians to reliably collect large amounts of high-quality sequence information from DNA and RNA molecules. The analysis and interpretation of such datasets are now routine aspects of many research projects in biology and medicine, creating a need for new tools and methods to also visualize the data and the findings.

With the decrease of sequencing costs, the number of freely available "omics" data sets also increases, opening a nearly unlimited quantity of molecular genetic information. For the last decades the classical way of elucidating multifaceted molecular networks of diseases has been to break down the system into smaller, more traceable parts.

The next MLL Academy will take place from March 24 to March 26, 2025. This three-day workshop on "State-of-the-art diagnostics in hematologic malignancies" offers participants a mix of theoretical and practical content, along with group discussions on the diagnosis of leukemia and lymphoma. Registration is open until February 1, 2025.

Die Trillium Akademie lädt Sie herzlich zum sechsten Onkologischen Symposium ein. Unter dem Motto „Vom Biomarker zur Therapie“ findet die Veranstaltung am Freitag, den 8. November 2024, bei uns im MLL Münchner Leukämielabor statt. Das Symposium wird im hybriden Format angeboten (vor Ort und im Livestream). Alle Infos zur Anmeldung, zum Programm und zu unserem Rabattcode finden Sie hier.

In addition to its medical and scientific work, the MLL is committed to providing regular training opportunities for specialists. This year, the MLL already hosted two attractive training courses: In April, the MLL Academy provided information on the latest developments and methods in leukemia diagnostics, while in June, an event was dedicated to the therapy and diagnosis of sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

Das MLL und die LMU Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik III) laden zu einer Fortbildung zum Thema "Sichelzellkrankheit und Thalassämien - Diagnostik und neue Therapiekonzepte" am 19.06.2024 ein. Hier geht's zur Anmeldung

Wir laden herzlich zur Neuauflage der Sobi Hämatologie-Gespräche in das MLL Münchner Leukämielabor ein.

Save the Date: The MLL and the LMU Ludwig-Maximilians-University (Medical Clinic and Polyclinic III) invite you to an advanced training course on "Sickle cell disease and thalassemia - diagnostics and new therapy concepts" on June 19, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Participation will be possible on site or virtually, further information will follow shortly (language: German).