Multicolour Flow Cytometry is based on fluorescence (and more) and produces data from every measured cell. The complexity and huge amount of data deserves special treatment and processing. During this presentation I hope to show you the advantages of various novel data analysis approaches developed within our group. These approaches could e.g. assist in Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) monitoring. Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) indicates the persistence of rare aberrant cells in patients with neoplasms disease, such as Multiple Myeloma, despite the fulfilment of complete remission. The adverse prognosis makes the monitoring of MRD using flow cytometry a standard diagnostic care for treatment effectiveness and risk of relapse evaluations. Our approach strongly reduces the time required to process and interpret the data and was able to identify MRD in Multiple Myeloma patients in a fast and automated way. Multivariate data analysis can also assist in the study of the effect of sport activities on the immune system of individuals.
Geert Postma, Radboud Universiteit