Adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have seen little progress in treatment outcomes compared to children, despite decades of research. The reasons include lower enrollment of adults in clinical trials, biological differences between adult and childhood ALL, and less intensive treatment protocols used for adults. New clinical trials aim to improve outcomes for young adult patients with ALL through more targeted therapies and protocols adapted from pediatric oncology.

1. Miracle Therapy for Adults with
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia … Not
Archie Bleyer, M.D.
Medical Director, Clinical Research
St. Charles Cancer Care
Bend, OR
Objectives:
• Describe the disparity in progress of ALL therapy between children and adults
• Enumerate primary reasons for the lack of progress in young adult patients
• Select clinical trials for young adult Texas with ALL