Mayo Clinic Laboratory and pathology research roundup: August 24

The research roundup provides an overview of the past week’s research from Mayo Clinic Laboratories consultants, including featured abstracts and a complete list of published studies and reviews.
Featured Abstract
Measurable residual disease does not preclude prolonged progression-free survival in CLL treated with Ibrutinib.
E1912 was a randomized phase 3 trial comparing indefinite ibrutinib plus six cycles of rituximab (IR) to six cycles of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) in untreated younger patients with CLL. We describe measurable residual disease (MRD) levels in E1912 over time and correlate them with clinical outcome. Undetectable MRD rates (< 1 CLL cell per 104 leukocytes) were 29.1%, 30.3%, 23.4% and 8.6% at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months for FCR, and significantly lower at 7.9%, 4.2% and 3.7% at 12, 24 and 36 months for IR, respectively. Undetectable MRD at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months was associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS) for the FCR arm with hazard ratios (MRD detectable / MRD undetectable) of 4.29 (95% CI 1.89 - 9.71), 3.91 (95% CI 1.39 - 11.03), 14.12 (95% CI 1.78 - 111.73), and not estimable (no events among those with undetectable MRD), respectively. For the IR arm, patients with detectable MRD did not have significantly worse PFS compared to those in whom MRD was undetectable; however, PFS was longer for those with MRD levels of less than 10-1 compared to those with MRD levels above this threshold. Our observations provide additional support for the use of MRD as a surrogate endpoint for PFS in patients receiving FCR. For patients on indefinite ibrutinib-based therapy, PFS did not differ significantly by undetectable MRD status, while those with MRD less than 10-1 tend to have longer PFS, although continuation of ibrutinib is very likely required to maintain treatment efficacy. Via Pub Med
Published to PubMed This Week
- Mortality in individuals treated with COVID-19 convalescent plasma varies with the geographic provenance of donors.
Nature Communications - Spectrum of hematological malignancies, clonal evolution and outcomes in 144 Mayo Clinic patients with germline predisposition syndromes.
American Journal of Hematology - Diagnostic value of 16S ribosomal RNA gene polymerase chain reaction/sanger sequencing in clinical practice.
Clinical Infectious Diseases - High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T for the detection of myocardial injury and risk stratification in COVID-19.
Clinical Chemistry - Epigenetic and senescence markers indicate an accelerated ageing-like state in women with preeclamptic pregnancies.
EBioMedicine - Dramatic presentation of cardiac pleomorphic liposarcoma.
Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging - Outcomes and echocardiographic follow-up after surgical management of tricuspid regurgitation in patients with transvenous right ventricular leads.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings - Autoimmune encephalitis-related seizures and epilepsy: diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings - Sebaceous carcinoma.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings - Glioma: interaction of acquired and germline genetics.
Aging