Decoding Relapse: What Single Cells Reveal About Leukemia Evolution

Cancer relapse is driven not only by which malignant cells survive treatment, but also by how those cells communicate and adapt under therapeutic pressure. In acute myeloid leukemia and other hematologic cancers, minimal residual disease (MRD) testing often detects molecular signals that are difficult to interpret, blurring the line between relapse-driving clones and biologically inert variants. In this session, Decoding Relapse: What Single Cells Reveal About Leukemia Evolution, Dr. Zivjena Vucetic will explore how single-cell technologies are transforming our understanding of leukemia progression and cell-to-cell communication within the tumor and its microenvironment. By examining genetic and functional features at the level of individual cells, these approaches reveal how resistant subpopulations emerge, interact and persist over time. The talk will highlight how integrating single-cell resolution with insights into intercellular signaling moves MRD beyond a binary readout, supporting more biologically informed risk assessment and earlier investigation of relapse mechanisms—ultimately guiding more precise therapeutic strategies. Key Learning Objectives: • How single-cell technologies are used to study leukemia evolution and treatment resistance • The role of cell-to-cell communication in clonal persistence and cancer relapse • How single-cell analysis improves interpretation of minimal residual disease (MRD) signals • How insights into cellular interactions can inform earlier intervention and more precise therapeutic strategies