Leukaemia Foundation
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Overview
Treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) will depend on the type of ALL you have, your age and fitness levels.
Chemotherapy is the main treatment for ALL, but you may also have other treatments including a stem cell transplant, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
Palliative treatment can be used for advanced ALL to improve quality of life.
Treatment options for ALL
Treatment will depend on the type of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) you have, your age and fitness levels, and will usually begin as soon as a diagnosis is made. Chemotherapy is the main treatment, but you may also have other treatments depending on how the ALL responds to chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill leukaemia cells or slow their growth. It’s the main treatment for ALL.
Stem cell transplant
A stem cell transplant is sometimes done after high-dose chemotherapy. It usually uses stem cells from another person (allogeneic transplant).
CAR T-cell immunotherapy
This type of immunotherapy helps the body’s T-cells, which are part of the immune system, to hunt down and attack leukaemia cells.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific features of leukaemia cells to stop the leukaemia growing and spreading.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses targeted radiation to kill or damage leukaemia cells so they cannot grow, multiply or spread.
Steroids
Steroids are drugs given with chemotherapy to help destroy leukaemia cells or to reduce allergic reactions to some chemotherapy drugs.
Palliative treatment
Palliative chemotherapy or radiation therapy can be used at any stage of advanced ALL to improve quality of life.
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