Evaluation of next-generation sequencing versus next-generation flow cytometry for minimal-residual-disease detection in Chinese patients with multiple myeloma

To evaluate the efficacy of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in minimal-residual-disease (MRD) monitoring in Chinese patients with multiple myeloma (MM). This study analyzed 60 Chinese MM patients. During MRD monitoring in these patients’ post-therapy, clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) rearrangements were detected via NGS using LymphoTrack assays. MRD monitoring was performed using NGS or next-generation flow cytometry (NGF), and the results were compared. Additionally, the sensitivity and reproducibility of the NGS method were assessed. The MRD detection range of the NGS method was 10–6–10–1, which suggested good linearity, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.985 and a limit of detection of 10–6. Intra- and inter-assay reproducibility analyses showed that NGS exhibited 100