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The Approach to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Older Patients: Conventional Treatments and Emerging Therapies

  • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemias (K Ballen, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among older adult patients presents significant clinical challenges. As opposed to pediatric populations, in whom long-term outcomes are markedly superior, those for adults remain grim. Nevertheless, younger adults with ALL have experienced a steady improvement in long-term survival in the last few decades. This is significantly different for older ALL patients, for whom long-term outcomes remain poor. Conventional chemotherapies are associated with sub-optimal outcomes and increased toxicity in this population. However, several emerging therapies, including antibody–drug conjugates, bi-specific engagers, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, have demonstrated much promise and are either incorporated into the existing therapeutic paradigms or being actively investigated to improve outcomes.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Stanbury Service PSP Group, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

      Victor D. Fedorov

    2. Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

      Vivek A. Upadhyay

    3. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Zero Emerson Place, Suite 118, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

      Amir T. Fathi

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    1. Victor D. Fedorov
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    2. Vivek A. Upadhyay
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    3. Amir T. Fathi
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    Correspondence to Amir T. Fathi.

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    Conflicts of Interest

    Victor D. Fedorov and Vivek A. Upadhyay each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

    Amir T. Fathi has served on an advisory board for Seattle Genetics.

    Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

    This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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    This article is part of the Topical Collection on Acute Lymphocytic Leukemias

    Victor D. Fedorov and Vivek A. Upadhyay contributed equally to this work.

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    Fedorov, V.D., Upadhyay, V.A. & Fathi, A.T. The Approach to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Older Patients: Conventional Treatments and Emerging Therapies. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 11, 165–174 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-016-0316-3

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