PCR for monitoring of minimal residual disease in hematologic malignancy

► Monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) is useful to evaluate therapy for leukemia. ► MRD assay is based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. ► Fusion genes and rearranged Ig/TCR genes have been used as MRD markers. ► PCR-based procedures for detecting single nucleotide mutations have been proposed. ► Single nucleotide mutations can be used as potential MRD markers.