New NGS-based method results in more accurate detection of clonal rearrangements in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Sensitive methods for following disease progression and response to treatment is important for many types of cancer. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia, unique monoclonal rearrangements of immunoglobulin genes and/or T-cell receptor genes are used to monitor minimal measurable disease. The current golden standard to detect clonal rearrangements is PCR and Sanger sequencing. 

In a study published in Diagnostics, Clinical Genomics Uppsala evaluated the clinical value of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) based LymphoTrack assay in collaboration with researchers at the Clinical Pathology department at Uppsala University Hospital. The NGS assay allows simultaneous analysis of all possible combinations of rearranged immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes. 

– Our study showed that the LymphoTrack assay is reliable and equally sensitive as the conventional PCR GeneScan method. In addition, the NGS-based assay is more sensitive to detect minor clonal rearrangements, has a shorter turn-around time, is more streamlined and is more cost efficient, says Peter Hollander, corresponding author of the publication and leader of hematopathology at Clinical Genomics Uppsala. 

The LymphoTrack assay has been implemented in clinical routine at the Clinical Pathology department and is used in all patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Given the advantages with LymphoTrack compared to PCR and Sanger sequencing, patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are now more accurately monitored. 

Publication

LymphoTrack Is Equally Sensitive as PCR GeneScan and Sanger Sequencing for Detection of Clonal Rearrangements in ALL Patients. Karin Paulsen, Millaray Marincevic, Lucia Cavelier, Peter Hollander, Rose-Marie Amini. Diagnostics 2022, DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061389