2022 Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 135-139
The five-year survival rate for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has improved to more than 90% in high-income countries. However, about 15% of the patients experience relapse, and relapsed ALL is resistant to commonly used multidrug chemotherapy. Although the prognosis of relapsed ALL patients with standard- and intermediate-risk features has been considerably improved, patients with high-risk features still have poor remission rates with all regimens applied so far. Thus, there is still potential for improvement of survival rates. The advent of novel immunotherapies, such as blinatumomab, inotuzumab, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapies, has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape in the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-ALL, but the optimization of these treatments is needed. On the basis of our experience in relapsed ALL treatment, we discuss the future strategy of treatment and management of relapsed ALL in childhood.
