ASCO 2021 | Ph-like ALL: characteristics, outcomes and role of allo-HCT

Zaid Abdel Rahman, MD, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, discusses the characteristics, outcomes, and role of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in patients with Philadelphia-like B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL). Dr Rahman explores how a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) diagnostic algorithm has been developed to recognize the Ph-like-ALL subset across an ALL cohort at Mayo Clinic who received allo-HCT. The outcomes of patients who were identified to have the Ph-like ALL, were compared with the outcomes of patients with Ph-negative ALL. Around 33 patients were identified to have the Ph-like-ALL, accounting for 9% of the ALL cohort at Mayo Clinic. Ph-like-ALL patients were younger, likely to be of Hispanic and had a higher presentation of white blood cell count (WBC). Patients with Ph-like-ALL had worse outcomes compared to patients without the Ph-like-ALL, and they had less chances of achieving remission and higher chances of relapse and overall survival. Dr. Rahman concludes by highlighting ongoing clinical trials currently investigating how targeted therapies can be of benefit fot patients with Ph-like-ALL. This interview was conducted at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021 Virtual Meeting.