Special Considerations

Patients with T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), mature B-cell ALL (Burkitt leukemia), or Ph-positive ALL must discuss with the leukemia specialist specific modifications in their treatments that can improve their cure potential. For example, the addition of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imitanib has resulted in significantly higher rates of complete remission (CR) and overall survival for patients with Ph-positive ALL.

Prognosis

In general, in children with ALL, the remission rate is 95%, and the cure rate is 70 percent to 80 percent, but may vary based on risk factors (for example the white blood cell count, chromosomal abnormalities, initial response to therapy, etc.).

In adults with ALL, the remission rate with modern regimens is high at 80 percent to 90 percent. However, the cure rate is only 30 percent to 40 percent. The cure rates are higher in T-cell ALL (about 50 percent), in mature B-cell ALL (about 60 percent to 70 percent), and more recently possibly in Ph-positive ALL.