Optimizing Treatments for High-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: What It Takes to Move the Needle

Survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia have steadily improved in childhood, such that more than 85% of children can expect to be cured with current cytotoxic therapies. Unfortunately, the same increases in survival have not been demonstrated in adults or in patients with relapsed disease. However, the rapidly changing landscape of treatment which extends beyond conventional chemotherapy is likely to move the needle of cure forward. Ranging from the application of precision genomic medicine in subsets of ALL to the delivery of novel immunotherapeutic approaches, clinicians who treat ALL are witnessing an astonishing renaissance emerging from the dark ages of traditional chemotherapy.

Dr. Loh will discuss recent genomic approaches to optimizing therapy for childhood and adolescent/young adult ALL . She will discuss the incorporation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors into chemotherapy platforms for affected patients.

Dr. Frey will discuss the use of novel immunotherapeutic approaches in ALL, including CART cells and bi-specific T-cell engaging molecules, along with approaches to the management of cytokine release syndrome.

Dr. Gökbuget will discuss the approach to older patients with ALL, including factors for decision making, age adapted induction and consolidation therapies, potential prognostic factors and future strategies with inclusion of novel compounds.