Optimizing therapy in the modern age: differences in length of maintenance therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

ABSTRACT: A majority of children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are cured with contemporary multiagent chemotherapy regimens. The high rate of survival is largely the result of 70 years of randomized clinical trials performed by international cooperative groups. Contemporary ALL therapy usually consists of cycles of multiagent chemotherapy administered over 2 to 3 years that includes central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis, primarily consisting of CNS-penetrating systemic agents and intrathecal therapy. Although the treatment backbones vary among cooperative groups, the same agents are used, and the outcomes are comparable. ALL therapy typically begins with 5 to 9 months of more-intensive chemotherapy followed by a prolonged low-intensity maintenance phase. Historically, a

SUBMITTER: Teachey DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7820874 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature