Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Murine Model of Leukemia Relapse to Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Published on: October 17, 2025
Continuing challenges and current issues in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Ankit Kansagra1, Saurabh Dahiya2, Mark Litzow1
1a Division of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , MN , USA.
Insights
Adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have poor survival rates despite advances. New targeted therapies and individualized treatment approaches are improving outcomes, offering hope for better management of this challenging leukemia.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment yields high cure rates in children but suboptimal outcomes in adults.
- Adults and elderly patients with ALL have a 5-year survival rate of 30-40%, significantly lower than children's 90%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances in adult ALL.
- To highlight challenges in the management of adult ALL patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- Analysis of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies including novel agents.
- Focus on immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular features for personalized treatment.
Main Results:
- Advances in understanding ALL through cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities.
- Development and integration of novel targeted agents like tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and immune therapies (BiTE, CAR T cells).
- Shift towards individualized treatment paradigms in adult ALL.
Conclusions:
- Novel therapies are improving outcomes for adult ALL patients.
- Personalized medicine based on specific ALL features is transforming treatment.
- Continued research is crucial to address remaining challenges in adult ALL management.
Abstract:
Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has resulted into high cure rates for pediatric patients, however outcomes for adult patients remain suboptimal. The 5-year overall survival is only 30-40% in adults and elderly patients with ALL compared to 90% in children. We have seen major advances in our understanding and management of ALL related to identification of new cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities and development of novel targeted agents for the treatment of ALL. The addition of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and novel immune therapies (e.g. bispecific T cell engager [BiTE] and chimeric antigen receptor [CAR] T cells) has resulted in improved outcomes. These new developments are changing the treatment paradigm of adults ALL from a 'one size fits all' approach to a more individualized treatment approach based on immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular features. In this article we review recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances along with the challenges in the treatment of patients with ALL.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
01:27Disorders of Leukocytes
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune...
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
01:24Tissue Transplantation
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...