iwAL 2018 | iwAL 2018 day 1 discussion: treatment strategies in pediatric and adult ALL

The 1st International Workshop on Acute Leukemias (iwAL), held in St. Pete Beach, FL, hosted an exciting session on treatment strategies in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this panel discussion, filmed following the session, Richard Larson, MD, of the University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, is joined by Charles Mullighan, MD, MBBS, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, and Daniel DeAngelo, MD, PhD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Dr Mullighan’s talk focused on childhood and adolescent ALL, for which the group discuss the intriguing Total Therapy XVII trial (NCT03117751), which aims to utilize novel precision medicine strategies to improve the cure rate and quality of life of children with ALL. In addition, the experts explore the field of immunotherapy, particularly CAR T-cells and novel antibody-based agents, in both young and adult ALL. The experts discuss the need to move these therapies into the frontline setting to improve minimal residual disease status, as well as the future extent of the use of transplantation and prophylactic cranial irradiation. Finally, the panel round-up the discussion with their predictions for the future directions of ALL therapy.