Allogeneic transplantation for patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Is it imperative in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor era?

Abstract

Before the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) was associated with dismal survival without allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Recent evidence has demonstrated that the combination of TKI and chemotherapy can result in a high rate of complete remission, thereby enabling more patients to proceed to allo-HSCT. However, with more studies reporting non-inferior outcomes with TKI and chemotherapy combination without allo-HSCT, the need for allo-HSCT in Ph+ ALL has become less certain. This review summarizes evidence that will address the relevance of allo-HSCT in Ph+ ALL.

Keywords: ALL; Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Ph+; Philadelphia chromosome positive; TKI; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor; allo-HSCT.