[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia - diagnosis and therapy]

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology

Background:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare hematological malignancy characterized by the proliferation of immature lymphoid blasts.
• The disease predominantly affects children but can occur in adults, necessitating specialized care.
• Untreated ALL is rapidly fatal, underscoring the urgency of diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the diagnosis and therapy of Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
• To highlight the heterogeneity of ALL and its impact on prognostic factors and treatment strategies.
• To discuss recent advancements in ALL management, including targeted therapies and minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical presentation, immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and molecular markers in ALL.
• Discussion of therapeutic strategies, including international study group protocols and curative aims.
• Examination of advancements in minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) determination.

Main Results:

• Prognosis in ALL is influenced by immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and molecular markers.
• Curative therapy is the aim for younger patients, with improved overall survival in the last decade.
• Minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment significantly impacts decisions regarding allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Conclusions:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) requires specialized care due to its rarity and heterogeneity.
• Therapeutic strategies for ALL are guided by prognostic markers and aim for curative outcomes.
• Advances in MRD detection are crucial for guiding treatment, particularly for stem cell transplantation decisions.