How Is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Staged and Classified?

Unlike many other cancers, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) doesn’t have a traditional staging system because it is a blood cancer that spreads throughout the body rather than forming solid tumors. Instead, doctors classify ALL based on several key factors and phases to help determine the best treatment plan.

The Type of Lymphocytes Affected

ALL is classified based on the type of lymphocytes involved—either B cells or T cells.

Subtypes of B-cell ALL

Age at Diagnosis

Age is another key factor in classifying ALL. The disease can be categorized as pediatric or adult based on the patient's age at diagnosis:

• Pediatric ALL: Generally, children have a better prognosis and higher cure rates.
• Adult ALL: Adults tend to have a more challenging prognosis and different treatment approaches.

Initial White Blood Cell Count

The white blood cell (WBC) count at diagnosis can affect prognosis. Generally, a lower WBC count is associated with better outcomes.

Genetic Features of ALL Cells

Certain genetic characteristics are used to classify ALL and play a key role in prognosis and treatment decisions.

There are around 25 different genetic subtypes of ALL. Below are some of the more common ones, along with their associated prognosis. 

What Are the Phases of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia?

ALL is often described based on how the disease responds to treatment, which can be broken down into three phases:

• Remission: This phase occurs when there are no signs of the disease after treatment.
• Relapse: In this phase, the leukemia returns after a period of remission.
• Refractory: This phase refers to when leukemia cells do not respond to treatment.

Ready to take control of your ALL journey? Explore more resources on diagnosis, treatment options, and living well with ALL on HealthTree's ALL 101 pages.

ALL 101 Pages