Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in T-cells: Signs, Treatments, and Further Information
In the world of blood cancers, T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) stands as a significant player. This rapid-progressing disease affects the stem cells in the bone marrow that produce lymphoid cells.
T-ALL presents a promising outlook for many children, with 5-year survival rates exceeding 85%. However, the picture changes for adults, with survival rates dropping to 50%.
The disease is characterised by at least 20% of white blood cells in the bone marrow or blood being atypical. Unlike T-ALL, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) typically affects adults and is more common.
Certain risk factors increase an individual's risk of T-ALL. These include age, biological sex, radiation exposure, chemical exposure, viral infections, genetic syndromes, and race.
When it comes to treatment, chemotherapy is the traditional frontline approach, often given in phases: induction, consolidation, and maintenance, to induce and sustain remission.
Stem cell transplantation can be used after high-dose chemotherapy or radiation to restore healthy bone marrow and immune function. It replaces damaged marrow with healthy stem cells from the patient or a donor.
CAR T-cell therapy, an evolving immunotherapy, represents a promising emerging option for difficult-to-treat T-ALL cases. In this therapy, a patient’s own T-cells are genetically modified to attack leukemia cells. New investigational therapies targeting T-cell antigens (e.g., CD5, CD7) are under development specifically for T-ALL.
Targeted therapies (e.g., monoclonal antibodies) and combination regimens with drugs like dasatinib or venetoclax may also be part of treatment protocols, especially in refractory or relapsed cases.
While T-ALL shares some similarities with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), there are key differences. CML has three phases depending on the number of immature white blood cells or blasts identifiable in the blood or bone marrow. AML, on the other hand, develops in different bone marrow cells and is more common in adults, with various subtypes.
The symptoms of T-ALL are nonspecific and may cause generalised symptoms such as anemia, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, frequent infections, fever, sweats, bruising, bleeding, and swollen lymph nodes in the middle of the chest.
Doctors often treat T-ALL with multidrug chemotherapy and steroids for several months. The outlook for an individual with T-ALL is generally good, with children having an overall survival rate of more than 85% after 5 years. Doctors treat T-ALL with chemotherapy, and they may recommend bone marrow transplants, depending on an individual's health.
Research is ongoing to find new ways to treat and manage T-ALL and other types of leukemia. The future of T-ALL treatment looks promising, with the potential for targeted immunotherapies like CAR T-cell therapy to play a significant role.
- Although T-ALL primarily affects children with high survival rates, the survival rates for adults drop to 50%.
- Chemotherapy, often given in phases, is the traditional frontline approach for treating T-ALL.
- Stem cell transplantation and CAR T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy, are emerging options for difficult-to-treat T-ALL cases.
- Leukemias, including T-ALL, are categorized as medical-conditions under health-and-wellness, and AML is considered one of them.
- Eosinophilic asthma, not leukemia, is another medical condition that affects the immune system and lungs.
