In Case You Missed It: Recent Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia News

Recently, several important studies and announcements have shed new light on treatment outcomes and emerging research across blood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With the fast pace of research, you may have missed these research updates. Understanding what is being studied for ALL treatment can help shape how providers, patients, and care partners understand treatment options. In case you missed them, here is a roundup of key highlights.

Treatments for relapsed and refractory ALL

Treatment options for relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) continue to expand. Novel therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates are improving remission rates and longer-term survival for many. 

Revumenib 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved revumenib (Revuforj, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) for the treatment of relapsed and refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).  Revumenib is a selective menin inhibitor that prevents menin (a protein that regulates gene expression) from binding to the KMT2A gene.  

Read more about Revumenib. 

Brexucabtagene

Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus, Kite Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), also known as brexu-cel,  is a CAR T-cell therapy approved for adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL and mantle cell lymphoma. The largest real-world study to date evaluated its use in patients aged 60 and older. Among 280 participants, outcomes showed that older adults had similar response rates to younger patients, with many reaching MRD-negative remission. Side effects such as neurotoxicity were more common in those aged 70 and above, but overall survival and progression-free survival were comparable across age groups.

Read more about brexucabtagene.

Inotuzumab ozogamicin

Inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa, Pfizer), also known as InO, is an FDA-approved medication used to treat relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL in adults.

Studies on how safe and effective InO is show that the previously recommended dose of 1.8 mg/m² per cycle is optimal. 

Read more about InO.

Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with ALL

A recent retrospective cohort analysis shed light on outcomes among children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL).

The study evaluated key treatment milestones and outcomes, including:

• Rates of complete remission following frontline therapy
• Treatment-related mortality (TRM) and the burden of therapy
• Proportion of patients proceeding to stem cell transplant as part of their care
• Survival outcomes, offering insight into long-term prognosis

Read more about outcomes for CAYA with ALL. 

Social Connection and ALL 

ALL impacts thousands of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in the United States each year. Diagnosis and treatment for ALL not only impacts your physical well-being, but can take a toll on your mental health as well.

There are a lot of ways that young people can stay connected or reconnect with others after diagnosis, including joining a support group, hobbies, getting involved in the community, and talking to a therapist.

Read more about staying connected as a young person with ALL.

Minimal Residual Disease in ALL

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a highly sensitive measure of remaining cancer cells after treatment. It can be a key predictor of outcomes in people with blood cancer.

A study of 161 ALL patients measured MRD within the first six months after having received a frontline therapy. The study results showed:

• MRD negativity increased over time.
• Rates of MRD negativity did not differ significantly between high-risk and non-high-risk patients.
• MRD negativity is linked to better overall survival.

Read more about MRD in ALL. 

Staying up to date on the latest research and treatment advances can help with making informed decisions and finding the right support. Create a free HealthTree account, where you can access resources, track updates relevant to your diagnosis, and connect with others in the community.

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Sources: 

• FDA Revumenib Approval 
• HealthTree Revumenib for ALL 
• Response and Survival of CAYA with RR ALL 
• Efficacy and Safety of Brexucabtagene Autoleucel for RR B-Cell ALL in Patients Aged 60 and Up 
• Dose Optimization of Inotuzumab Ozogamicin in Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 
• Early Achievement of MRD Negativity