Dr Josep Ribera talks to ecancer about his talk at ALL Assembly 2021.

He begins by saying that 20-30% of ALL transplant patients will relapse, making relapse one of the main issues, currently. Transplantation for patients with MRD- status has a lower chance of relapse, however, others will have to take additional measures. These measures can be divided between 2 sub-groups of patients with Ph+ ALL and Ph- ALL.

Dr Ribera then goes on to explain that for patients with Ph+ ALL a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) can be used for prophylaxis or preemptive use. For patients with Ph- ALL prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) can be used or immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as blinatumomab or inotuzumab.

He concludes by reiterating the main message of his talk, which is to prevent relapses rather than treating them, after transplantation in patients with ALL.