Adam Olszewski, MD, Brown University, Providence, RI, presents the preliminary results of a study examining the diagnostic sensitivity of a novel molecular next-generation sequencing assay to detect clonotype-specific cell-free DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement in B-cell lymphoma (BCL). The results suggest the assay can positively detect patients at risk of CNS involvement before clinical presentation of CNS invasion. The assay shows a negative predictive value, in which patients who test negative do not experience CNS involvement. A larger cohort is needed for validation, however, future applications include using the assay prospectively with treatment to determine the best candidates for CNS prophylaxis. This interview took place during the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2020.
