title: Clinical manifestations and treatment of newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults.
abstract: Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous disease with distinct biologic and prognostic subgroups. The treatment of adults with ALL has evolved largely from the therapy developed for childhood ALL and, despite differences across regimens, can be broadly classified as including induction, consolidation, maintenance, and central nervous system prophylaxis. Although there has been marked improvement in the outcomes for pediatric patients with ALL, the same success has not yet been realized for adult patients. Some of this difference can be attributed to a greater incidence of unfavorable cytogenetic subtypes in adults than in children. In addition, the ability to tolerate intensive regimens likely plays a role. This article reviews the classification, prognostic features, current treatment programs, and new advances as applied to adult patients with newly diagnosed ALL.
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Leukemia Service, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Landau
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lamanna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015994:Incidence; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic