Strategies to Improve Treatment for Relapsed or Refractory ALL

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD
Chairman & Professor, Leukemia Department
MD Anderson Cancer Center
University of Texas

Researchers are currently investigating new treatments for relapsed or refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Participation in trials of these treatments will lead to improved therapies. If you wish to participate in a clinical trial, please talk to your doctor about the potential benefits and side effects of the treatment.

• Stem cell transplant - High-dose chemotherapy and autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant are superior treatment options for many patients.
• New chemotherapy regimens - Development of new multidrug chemotherapy treatment regimens with new or additional anticancer therapies is an active area of clinical research. All new drugs for the treatment of patients with ALL are tested first in patients with relapsed or refractory disease. When they are found to be effective, they are evaluated as post-remission treatment. New anticancer drugs that selectively kill T lymphocytes are being evaluated in T-cell ALL.
• Biological modifier therapy - Biologic response modifiers are naturally occurring or synthesized substances that control the body's normal immune defenses. Biologic response modifiers include interferons, interleukins, and monoclonal antibodies. In an attempt to improve survival rates, these and other agents are being tested in clinical studies alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Interleukin-2 is currently being evaluated as a maintenance agent after consolidation therapy. Newer biologic agents are in the developmental phase.