Over the last three decades, @entity981 ( @entity981 ) of childhood has turned from a once fatal condition into a disease that can be cured in about two-thirds of @entity1 . Nevertheless, about 30% of these @entity1 relapse with a dismal prognosis. Achievement of complete remission is an essential step in successful therapy. However, @entity1 in complete remission as defined by morphologic criteria can still harbor more than 10(9) leukemic cells. We have recently shown that @entity66 is detected in most @entity1 after completion of therapy. The amount of persistent 'indolent' disease that is actually present in a particular @entity1 and the degree to which it must be reduced to maintain a long-term remission is largely unknown. In order to address this question, and hence to tailor efficient therapy in accordance with the needs of the individual @entity1 , a multitude of techniques for the detection of @entity66 have been developed over the last few years. The most commonly used techniques are the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. These sensitive assays have revolutionized this area of research. The heterogeneity of the results obtained, however, still precludes widespread clinical applicability of these techniques.

@entity66 in XXXX of childhood: methods of detection and clinical relevance.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity981 :: ('MESH:D054198', 'Disease') :: ['ALL', 'acute lymphoblastic leukemia'] @entity66 :: ('MESH:D004194', 'Disease') :: ['residual disease']
@entity981 :: (MESH:D054198,Disease) :: ['acute lymphoblastic leukemia']
