Therapy of the newly diagnosed adult with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Results for adult ALL have improved, with CR rates of 68% to 91% and a cure rate of 25% to 41%. The outcome for patients with T-ALL has especially improved, and the major drugs responsible are C and ara-C. Outcome for B-ALL has improved by using short intensive cycles including, among other drugs, C and high-dose MTX. The inferior outcome of adult ALL compared with childhood ALL seems related to the high proportion of Ph1/BCR-ABL positive ALL patients, which constitute about 30% in adults versus less than 5% in children. The major prognostic factors for survival in adult ALL are age, time to achieve CR, cytogenetic abnormalities, immunologic subtype, and WBC; these may serve as a guide for BMT in first CR. New approaches in the treatment of adult ALL include the use of HGFs, the use of biologic response modifiers, and the detection of MRD to tailor treatment decisions.