Genetic Test May Predict Leukemia Relapse Risk

Researchers find DNA-based test can identify tiny traces of cancer that traditional methods often miss.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 7:00pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers have revealed that a specialized DNA-based test can identify tiny traces of cancer, called measurable residual disease (MRD), that traditional methods often miss. This can help doctors better understand which acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients are at the highest risk of relapse after a stem cell transplant. The test focuses on a specific gene called NPM1, which appears in roughly 30% of adults diagnosed with AML.

Why it matters

Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive form of blood cancer, and while modern treatments can often push it into remission, the threat of a relapse remains a constant fear for patients. This new genetic test could help doctors tailor treatment and monitoring for AML patients, moving away from one-size-fits-all cancer care and toward more precise, personalized medicine.

The details

The research team analyzed blood samples from 190 AML patients who had undergone stem cell transplants between 2013 and 2019. Using next-generation DNA sequencing, they found that patients who tested positive for the mutated NPM1 signal before their transplant were three to four times more likely to see their cancer return. Furthermore, those with the highest levels of the NPM1 marker had a 27% chance of surviving three years after their procedure. The researchers also noted that the NPM1 mutation often occurs alongside the FLT3-ITD mutation, and when a single test is available, they found that testing for NPM1 provided the most predictive value overall.

  • The research was published recently in Bone Marrow Transplantation.
  • The blood samples analyzed were collected from 2013 to 2019.

The players

Christopher Hourigan

A professor and director of the Cancer Research Center at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke, Virginia, and the senior author of the study.

Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Acute Myeloid Leukemia Measurable Residual Disease Biomarkers Consortium

A consortium that includes researchers from Virginia Tech, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and more than 20 pharmaceutical and medical diagnostic companies.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Large, carefully designed studies are essential for systematically improving the standards in how we monitor and treat this rare disease.”

— Christopher Hourigan, Professor and director of the Cancer Research Center at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

“Precision medicine depends on building a solid foundation so these powerful technologies can be used responsibly.”

— Christopher Hourigan, Professor and director of the Cancer Research Center at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

What’s next

The team is now expanding and validating its work through a nationwide study called MEASURE, which is active at 18 major cancer centers across the United States. The results of that work are expected to be available at year's end.

The takeaway

This new genetic test could help doctors better predict which acute myeloid leukemia patients are at the highest risk of relapse after a stem cell transplant, allowing them to tailor treatment and monitoring more precisely. This is an important step toward personalized, precision medicine for this aggressive form of blood cancer.