News

The prognostic significance of minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with multiple myeloma has been examined in numerous studies and is the subject of much controversial discussion. Existing data has to date been extremely heterogeneous with regard to patient collectives, therapies, number of cases, and the methodology via which MRD was detected. However, since the presentation of the meta-analysis by Munshi et al. (JAMA 2017), it can be considered as proven that MRD negativity after first-line therapy is one of the strongest surrogate markers for prolonged overall survival.

Since 2009, MLL has been accredited according to the international standards DIN EN ISO 15189 "Medical laboratories - Requirements for quality and competence" and DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 "General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories" by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS). In April this year, MLL was once again audited by DAkkS. Its existing accreditations were successfully upheld and expanded with new analyses.

Expansion of "Integrated Findings" portfolio After the successful introduction of Integrated Findings for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at the end of 2017, Munich Leukemia Laboratory GmbH (MLL) now also offers a version for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The goal here is also to provide both a clear summary and detailed interpretation of the often complex constellation of individual cytomorphological, flow cytometry, and in particular cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings.

Cost-conscious diagnostics are a must. As MLL hematologists who, in general, have invariably spent a lot of time working in hospitals and outpatient clinics, we are particularly aware of this problem. It has thus always been our priority to provide you and your patients with a cost-effective procedure in the form of step-by-step diagnostics.

In the last issue (1/2019), MLL News featured an article which was recently published in Blood on the use of high-throughput sequencing in (unclear) cytopenia and MDS (Steensma et al. 2018). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is already playing a major role in AML diagnostics today and will continue to become more and more important. The focus of this issue of MLL News is therefore the current and future challenges of advanced molecular genetic diagnostics in (suspected) AML.

The MLL Academy took place for the second time from April 8, 2019 to April 12, 2019. The twelve international participants were able to gain a detailed overview of clinical cases and in particular the special diagnostics of hematological diseases. Due to the positive feedback of participants once again this year, a five-day MLL Academy is already in the works for 2020.

07.11.2019 - 08.11.2019

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München

MLL Academy - Next-Generation Sequencing

Molecular genetics plays an important role in the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic evaluation of hematological disorders and will continue to gain importance in the future. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is an essential method in a modern molecular diagnostic portfolio. This is why the MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory offers a specialized MLL Academy focused on NGS. The course will take place from November 7th until November 8th 2019.