Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is predominantly a childhood disease and its incidence in adults is low. The prognosis and treatment outcome in adults are less satisfactory than in children.
However, many new discoveries have been made recently. This review describes diagnostic procedures and treatment options in adult ALL.
It focuses on minimal residual disease and its prognostic significance; on several new genetic abnormalities, such as IKZF1 (Ikaros) and NOTCH1 gene mutations and on the new prognostic categories of Ph-like (BCR-ABL1-like) ALL and early T-cell precursor (ETP) ALL. An overview of new drugs currently being tested in clinical trials, especially monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, is also presented.