ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA

Research

Physicians and scientists from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and UW Medicine are testing new treatments for ALL and finding new ways to use current treatments.

Through this work, we are looking for answers to two main questions: How can we do even better at controlling or curing ALL? How can we make treatments less toxic and easier on patients?

We have clinical trials for all classifications of ALL, from newly diagnosed to refractory. The trials are testing dozens of medicines, including:

Chemotherapy regimens
Targeted therapies
Immunotherapies, including cellular immunotherapies

In the past 15 years, research on targeted therapies and immunotherapies has found new ways to put ALL into remission and make treatments less toxic for patients. Fred Hutch is a national leader in advancing these and other options, bringing new hope to patients.

When your care team designs your treatment plan, they will give you the choice to join clinical trials that match your situation. If you decide to join one, you will see the same physicians and nurses as you would for standard therapy.

Your care team will talk with you if you might want to join a particular study and why, so you can make the decision that’s best for you.

Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. Immunotherapy A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. A therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. Some immunotherapies only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and some monoclonal antibodies. Refractory In medicine, refractory disease is a disease or condition that does not respond to treatment. Remission A decrease in, or disappearance of, signs and symptoms of cancer. A decrease in, or disappearance of, signs and symptoms of cancer. In partial remission, some (but not all) signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms of cancer have disappeared, although cancer still may be in the body. Standard care A treatment or other intervention currently being used and considered to be of proven effectiveness based on past studies. Targeted therapy A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells while causing less harm to normal cells. A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells while causing less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells, or they deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment. Most targeted therapies are either small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies. Treatment plan A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A treatment plan may also include information about how much the treatment is likely to cost and about regular follow-up care after treatment ends.

“CAR T-cell therapy is an important advancement and an exciting area of ongoing research. Fred Hutch was one of the leading sites to develop CAR T-cell therapy, particularly for ALL. Our center is also world-renowned for our history in pioneering the bone marrow transplant.”

— Ryan Cassaday, MD, hematologist-oncologist

Patient Guide To Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Research highlights

A Leading Certification for Treating ALL

Fred Hutch, and specifically the Bezos Family Immunotherapy Clinic, is one of only 51 centers certified for CAR-T therapy, an innovative immunotherapy treatment for ALL. Learn more about the treatment and this special designation.

Fred Hutch’s Dr. Turtle on the future of immunotherapy

In this Q&A with Fred Hutch’s Dr. Cameron Turtle, you can learn about his research into the development of therapies that redirect immune T cells to attack cancer cells.

A Second Chance to Make CAR-T Cell Therapy Work

For patients with aggressive bone cancers, could a second round of CAR-T therapy make a difference

Bone marrow transplant survival rates are on the rise

Fred Hutch has been tracking bone marrow transplant risks since the 1990s. They are reporting sharp declines in transplant-related complications, with the risk of post-transplant death down 34 percent.

Bone marrow The soft, spongy material in the center of your bones that produces all your blood cells, such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Immunotherapy A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. A therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection and other diseases. Some immunotherapies only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and some monoclonal antibodies. T cell A type of white blood cell. T cells are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. They help protect the body from infection and may help fight cancer. A type of white blood cell. T cells are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. They help protect the body from infection and may help fight cancer. Also called T lymphocyte and thymocyte.

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