ALL & Immunotherapy

The relapse rate remains high after chemotherapy for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With better molecular diagnosis and classification as well as better assessment for minimal residual disease, major progress in the treatment for refractory and/or relapsed ALL is being made. In addition to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL, immunotherapeutic agents, blinatumomab, inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, are changing the treatment paradigm for ALL...

The use of multiagent combination chemotherapy regimens results in cure rates of >90% for children and ∼40% for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but is associated with extensive toxicity and disappointingly low efficacy in relapsed patients. ALL blast cells express several surface antigens, including CD20, CD22, and CD19, which represent valuable targets for immunotherapy. Monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bispecific T-cell-engaging antibodies targeting these antigens offer novel mechanisms of action...