Fifty Years of Successful Treatment of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemi

Overview

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children. ALL also belongs among childhood malignant disorders with the best treatment outcome. The history of the treatment of childhood ALL serves as a paradigm for cancer cure. Fatal disease for every patient in the 1950’s evolved into curable disorder for 80% children at the beginning of 21st century. Optimal use of the antileukemic agents together with an application of prognostic factors for risk-directed therapy in clinical trials has resulted in a steady improvement in treatment outcome. Most important milestones of the progress in the treatment are reviewed here.

Key words:
acute leukemia, children, leukemia chemotherapy