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Treatment of Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  • Acute Leukemias (E Feldman, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) is characterized by expression of oncogenic fusion product BCR-ABL1, resulting from reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 [t(9;22)(q34;q11.2)]. Previously perceived to confer poor outcome with at least 10 % lower chance of remission than standard-risk ALL. With the advent of targeted BCR-ABL specific tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), higher remission rates were achieved, thus allowing more patients to proceed with the definitive treatment modality—allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Prime challenges to treatment of Ph+ ALL include appropriate integration of TKIs into remission induction chemotherapeutic regimes, appropriate understanding and implementation of BCR-ABL monitoring for guiding therapeutic intervention(s), and minimizing transplant-related toxicities.

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  1. University College London, London, UK

    A. K. Fielding

  2. Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    G. A. Zakout

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Fielding, A.K., Zakout, G.A. Treatment of Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 8, 98–108 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-013-0155-4

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