Being MRD positive one year after a stem cell transplant means that sensitive tests can still detect a small number of myeloma cells in the body. It doesn't mean treatment isn't working — it means there's still some measurable disease present, and the goal of maintenance therapy is to keep working toward reducing or Show Full Answer
Being MRD positive one year after a stem cell transplant means that sensitive tests can still detect a small number of myeloma cells in the body. It doesn't mean treatment isn't working — it means there's still some measurable disease present, and the goal of maintenance therapy is to keep working toward reducing or eliminating those remaining cells. Here's what's important to understand about this situation:
- MRD positive does not automatically mean treatment has failed — it's a marker doctors use to guide decisions
- Maintenance therapy, such as lenalidomide, has been shown to help push patients toward MRD-negative status over time
- In one study, about 30% of people reached MRD-negative status after 30 months of maintenance therapy — so it can take time
- Staying consistent with maintenance therapy is really important, as it tends to become more effective the longer it's taken It's also worth knowing that guidelines on how doctors use MRD results are still evolving. Some doctors are now using MRD status to fine-tune treatment plans, but practices vary. The best step is to have an open conversation with the oncologist about what this specific MRD level means for the treatment plan going forward.
June 24
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