Directions for future research in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia

Progress in therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia continues at a steady pace, with event-free survival rates approaching 90% for low-risk and standard-risk patients. The challenge now is to use the emerging new insights into the unique biology of the leukemic lymphoblast to create novel strategies for curing ALL with minimum toxicity. It is hoped by all of us that these volumes help to stimulate development of new approaches to curing ALL at the lowest possible cost to the patient and to society.