FIL MRD Network is a network of laboratories collaborating on minimal residual disease (MRD) studies within FIL clinical trial protocols.
The term ‘minimal residual disease’ refers to the presence of a small number of cancer cells that persist in the body during or after oncological treatment.
Biological samples (peripheral blood and bone marrow) from patients enrolled in clinical trials requiring these analyses are centralized in the Network’s laboratories, where the tests are performed.
The network currently includes four laboratories covering all geographical areas across Italy.
What does the FIL MRD Network do?
The work of the FIL MRD Network is essential to:
- Develop and support MRD studies integrated within clinical trials;
- Carry out regular quality control assessments (every six months) to ensure the standardization of MRD evaluation techniques in lymphomas and the reproducibility of results across laboratories;
- Build a national biobank;
- Promote the integration of biological data and precision medicine approaches within FIL clinical studies.
Since 2018, the laboratories of the FIL MRD Network have been part of the European EuroMRD Consortium, which focuses on the standardization of MRD analysis in lymphomas.
The EuroMRD Consortium is a division of ESLHO (European Scientific Foundation for Laboratory Hemato-Oncology), an official scientific working group of the EHA (European Hematology Association).