Diagnostic and therapeutic advances in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the era of gene analysis and targeted immunotherapy

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most rapidly changing hematological malignancies with advanced understanding of the genetic landscape, detection methods of minimal residual disease (MRD), and the development of immunotherapeutic agents with good clinical outcomes. The annual incidence of adult ALL in Korea is 300–350 patients per year. The WHO classification of ALL was revised in 2022 to reflect the molecular cytogenetic features and suggest new adverse- risk subgroups, such as Ph-like ALL and ETP-ALL. We continue to use traditional adverse-risk features and cytogenetics, with MRD-directed post-remission therapy including allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, with the introduction of novel agents, such as ponatinib, blinatumomab, and inotuzumab ozogamicin incorporated into frontline therapy, good MRD responses have been achieved, and overall survival outcomes are improving. Accordingly, some clinical trials have suggested a possible era of chemotherapy-free or transplantation-free approaches in the near future. Nevertheless, relapse of refractory ALL still occurs, and some poor ALL subtypes, such as Ph-like ALL and ETP-ALL, are unsolved problems for which novel agents and treatment strategies are needed. In this review, we summarize the currently applied diagnostic and therapeutic practices in the era of advanced genetic analysis and targeted immunotherapies in United States and Europe and introduce real-world Korean data.