Detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) is increasingly used in the management of leukemia patients. A wide variety of methods have been developed and include technologies designed to detect residual malignant cells beyond the sensitivity of conventional approaches such as morphology and banding cytogenetics in leukemia. The choice of the best method depends on the biology of the individual malignancy, i.e. on the determination of specific markers which are useful to differentiate between leukemic cells and normal hematopoiesis in leukemic patients. These markers include leukocyte differentiation antigens, fusion transcripts, transcripts overexpressed by mutated or nonmutated genes, rearranged genes, and individual markers like polymorphic repetitive DNA sequences. The major technologies for MRD detection, their advantages and disadvantages and their clinical applications are discussed in this special issue - from 'bench to bedside'. Providing a comprehensive overview on the significance of MRD in the evaluation, treatment and follow-up of hematologic malignancies, it will be of great value to hematologists, researchers interested in leukemias and lymphomas as well as laboratory technicians.

Master implementation of the techniques of flow cytometry in diagnosing complex haematological diseases and malignancies in patients, worldwide. Featuring World Health Organization recommendations on pre-analytical steps, instrument settings and panel construction, this invaluable manual offers invaluable support for those researching, practising and analyzing the cause of hematological malignancies. Authored by leading experts, this book puts flow-cytometry into everyday context. With a focus on multicolour panels, the manual provides readers an experienced understanding of effective, implementation techniques. Practitioners of all levels are offered a background in a variety of diseases presented alongside the most current methodology. Wide-ranging and comprehensive; detailed images of healthy blood, bone marrow and lymph-nodes are illustrated throughout, allowing for effective diagnosis. Through engaging with differential diagnoses, the manual offers an understanding of similar symptoms and mimicking malignancies, avoiding inaccurate results. Featuring in-depth descriptions of chronic diseases; users can reach accurate diagnosis, first time.

This book provides a state-of-the-art approach to the molecular basis of hematologic diseases and its translation into improved diagnostics and novel therapeutic strategies. Several representative hemato-oncologic malignancies are analyzed in detail: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Experts in the field describe the molecular methods applied for modern diagnostics and therapies, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, donor recipient matching, banking of biological material, analyses of post-transplant chimerism, and minimal residual disease monitoring. The volume concludes with an extensive section comprising thorough step-by-step protocols of molecular techniques in hematology, all of them validated in the authors’ own laboratories.