An Overview of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the second most common acute leukemia in adults. It is due to genetic alterations and chromosomal abnormalities which are involved in the differentiation and proliferation of lymphoid precursor cells. 75% of cases developed from precursors of the B-cell lineage and malignant T-cell precursors in adults. Generally, the risk of developing ALL is based on clinical factors such as white blood cell count, response to chemotherapy and age. Monotherapy and combination therapies play an important role in improving the patient’s therapeutic outcome. With the increased understanding of genetic alterations in ALL, therapeutic approaches target the specific genetic mutation associated with the signaling pathway. Newer treatment options like immunotherapeutic agents are being developed which helps in the future.