Current Research

ALL research is ongoing. The following advances may still be under investigation in clinical trials and may not be approved or available at this current time. Always discuss all diagnostic and treatment options with your doctor.

• The use of different antibodies directed against the ALL cells
  
  
• The use of new chemotherapy, as well as different schedules and doses of current drugs
  
  
• The study of a variety of techniques to make stem cell transplantation safer and easier
  
  
• The use of sophisticated molecular or immunologic tests to assess for the persistence of small amounts of ALL in patients in remission
  
  
• The use of clofarabine (Clolar) in adults with ALL (this drug is approved to treat recurrent childhood ALL)

Most cancer centers are actively involved in clinical trials aimed at increasing the rate of cure from ALL. The National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program sponsors many of these studies. Please talk with your doctor about these ongoing clinical trials.