Advances in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review will be focused on the advances in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) based on recently published articles. RECENT FINDINGS: Progress in the understanding of the molecular basis of ALL has contributed to a more precise definition of risk factors. The study of minimal residual disease has re-defined the baseline prognostic factors and has opened new strategies for postremission management. The use of pediatric-inspired therapies for young adults with standard-risk ALL, the broadening of the number of patients who are eligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, the increasing use of targeted therapies (monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and new purine analogs, etc.) in early phases of the disease, together with the improvements in supportive therapy explain the increased survival of young and middle-aged adult ALL. SUMMARY: These changes are improving long-term outcome, which in ongoing studies is expected to be of close to 50%, and are opening the door for future therapeutic advances.