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Novel Therapies in the Treatment of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemias (K Ballen and M Keng, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare hematologic malignancy. Advances in multi-agent chemotherapy have resulted in dramatic improvements in the number of pediatric cases that result in a cure; however, until recently, treatment options for older adults or patients with relapsed and refractory disease were extremely limited. This review seeks to describe in greater detail a number of emerging novel treatment modalities recently approved for this cancer.

Recent Findings

In this review, we discuss a number of recently approved novel therapies for ALL, including new approaches with targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, novel immune-based therapies including the bispecific antibody blinatumomab and the antibody-drug conjugate inotuzumab ozogamicin, and the role of cellular therapeutics such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. We also discuss the impact that advances in diagnostics and disease classification and monitoring have had on treatment.

Summary

A number of advances in ALL have resulted in dramatic changes to the treatment landscape and therapeutic options both at the time of diagnosis and in salvage. These findings are reshaping our treatment paradigms throughout the course of disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA, USA

    Alexander Gavralidis

  2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Zero Emerson Place Suite 118, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Andrew M. Brunner

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  1. Alexander Gavralidis
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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Acute Lymphocytic Leukemias

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Gavralidis, A., Brunner, A.M. Novel Therapies in the Treatment of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 15, 294–304 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-020-00591-4

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