Adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and molecular failure display a poor prognosis and are candidates for stem cell transplantation and targeted therapies

Abstract

Quantification of minimal residual disease (MRD) by real-time PCR directed to

Recognition of adult and pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia blasts by natural killer cells

“…2 Most patients reach CR but still have evidence of persistent minimal residual disease (MRD) after induction and consolidation, and tend to relapse with time. 3,4 Efforts have been made to develop therapeutic procedures aimed at controlling/eradicating MRD. 5,6 Over the years, the anti-leukemic potential of natural killer (NK) cells and their ability to regulate normal and possibly neoplastic hematopoietic precursors has raised considerable interest.…”

Long-term relapse-free survival in a phase 2 study of blinatumomab for the treatment of patients with minimal residual disease in B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

“…1 Blinatumomab, a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE ® ) antibody construct with dual specificity for CD19 and CD3, 2 demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-lineage ALL in two phase 2 studies, with response rates of 43% to 69% and median RFS of 5.9 to 7.6 months.…”

Allogeneic transplantation is not superior to chemotherapy in most patients over 40 years of age with Philadelphia‐negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first remission

“…MRD after induction therapy is regarded as an independent predictor for survival in younger adults with ALL [32,33] and seems to be a powerful predictor for outcome in older adults [4]. Furthermore, Bassan and colleagues previously demonstrated that MRD status can assist in allocating adult patients in remission to maintenance or HSCT [34].…”