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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL, is a blood cancer that affects \u201Clymphoblasts,\u201D the cells in the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/the-bone-marrow-biopsy-test-report-2252464&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;bone marrow&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; that would normally go on to produce specialized &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;05U2skOkQNIXJJ1XRMk5xw&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/types-of-white-blood-cells-and-immunity-2252553&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;white blood cells&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; called B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-natural-killer-cells-2249020&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Natural Killer (NK) cells&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. It is called \u201Cacute\u201D because it is rapidly progressive. ALL may also be called acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute lymphoid leukemia.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;According to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/&amp;amp;#64;epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-026238.pdf&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;The American Cancer Society&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, there were an estimated 5,330 new cases of ALL diagnosed in the US in 2010. Unlike other types of leukemia, ALL is most common in children under the age of 10\u00A0 but is also found in adults.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/alyl.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Five year survival rates&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; for ALL are 65.2% overall and greater than 90% in children.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What Causes ALL?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;As with many other types of cancer, the exact cause of ALL is not known. Researchers have noted an increased risk of developing ALL following exposure to high doses of radiation, as well as benzene, a chemical found in products such as pesticides, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Signs and Symptoms of ALL&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Most of the signs and symptoms of ALL are related to the burden that the production of leukemia cells places on the marrow. The cancer cells take over the marrow and interfere with the production of healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Anemia (low red blood cells), &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/thrombocytopenia-low-platelets-chemotherapy-symptom-2249347&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;thrombocytopenia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (low platelets), and neutropenia (low white blood cells) occur, and may result in the following signs and symptoms:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Discomfort in the bones or joints, especially in the legs&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Feeling tired or generally unwell&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Pale skin&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Bruising easily&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Feeling short of breath&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Tiny red spots under the skin (called petechiae- \u201Cpa-teek-ee-eye\u201D)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Unexplained fevers&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Excessive bleeding from minor wounds&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If ALL penetrates into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and brain (&amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;_uCmpZd1VPRbvSqm7fGePQ&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/cerebrospinal-fluid-514082&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cerebrospinal fluid&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or CSF), additional signs and symptoms may include:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Headaches&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Blurred vision&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Nausea and vomiting&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Seizures&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Treatment of ALL&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In most patients, intense chemotherapy is needed to achieve a remission in ALL. Unlike treatment for other types of acute leukemia, the regimens used to treat ALL are specifically toxic to lymphoblasts, while being relatively sparing of other types of blood-producing stem cells.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;As a result, ALL patients experience a greater cancer cell kill with a less severe drop in cell counts over a shorter duration of time. This means that the marrow can recover more quickly, and complications of low blood counts are less likely. Initial treatment of ALL is usually provided on a hospital inpatient basis, but once a remission is achieved, the remaining therapy is often given on an outpatient basis.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Also unlike other forms of leukemia, it is common for ALL cells to infiltrate other organs and remain hidden there, even after remission is achieved. Early in the disease process, ALL cells can travel to the CSF and central nervous system (CNS). Because chemotherapy drugs are usually not capable of passing from the bloodstream into the CSF, the cancer cells are sheltered there and will eventually multiply and lead to relapse unless treated properly.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The goal of treatment for ALL is to eliminate the leukemia cells from the bone marrow and lymph tissue, as well as from the sanctuary organs and CNS.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/how-is-chemotherapy-given-2252534&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Chemotherapy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; for ALL is given intravenously. Since you might require treatment over many months or even years, your doctor may choose to insert a catheter called a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-central-venous-catheter-cvc-2252535&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;central venous catheter,&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; which provides longterm access to your veins without having to be poked repeatedly. Otherwise, you will receive your chemotherapy through a vein, usually in your arm.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;While the initiation of the intravenous site (IV) can feel like a pinch, the infusion of your chemotherapy should not cause you any discomfort. If it does, you need to let your nurse or healthcare provider know immediately.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You will also need CNS prophylaxis to eliminate any cancer cells that have entered your CSF. CNS prophylaxis chemotherapy is called &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-intrathecal-chemotherapy-2252477&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;intrathecal chemotherapy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Your doctor will inject chemotherapy directly into the fluid surrounding your spine. If you had a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/lumbar-punctures-common-questions-answered-2488675&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;lumbar puncture&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u00A0or spinal tap as part of the diagnosis of your leukemia, this process is very similar.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You may also receive &amp;lt;a data-inlink=&amp;quot;MJgea0Q9QHLcKVjzBveDHQ&amp;amp;#61;&amp;amp;#61;&amp;quot; href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/managing-skin-problems-from-radiation-therapy-514354&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;radiation treatments&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; to kill leukemia cells in your CNS. Radiation treatments of this type are painless, and may remind you of an X-ray.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;About a quarter of ALL cases are a subtype called \u201CPhiladelphia-positive ALL,\u201D in which the cancer cells show a genetic abnormality referred to as the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-the-philadelphia-chromosome-2252562&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Philadelphia chromosome&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. This type of ALL is treated with a group of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in addition to regular chemotherapy. Examples of TKIs are imatinib mesylate (Gleevec), dasatinib (Sprycel) or nilotinib (Tasigna).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Some patients with high risk ALL may be candidates for &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/bone-marrow-transplants-bmt-2252136&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;stem cell transplantation&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. Your doctor will evaluate the characteristics of your leukemia cells, how they respond to therapy, and donor availability to help determine if stem cell transplant is right for you.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Even after a remission is achieved, treatment to maintain the remission may continue for many months. This \u201Cmaintenance therapy\u201D uses different combinations of chemotherapy drugs to eliminate any remaining cancer cells in your body. This ongoing therapy often continues for two to three years.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;The Bottom Line&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;ALL is a type of acute leukemia that affects lymphoblasts, or immature lymphocytes. Without therapy, acute leukemias can progress quickly. Treatment for ALL is unique from other types of leukemia and may require years of ongoing therapy for the best outcomes.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Cancer Facts and Figures 2010. The American Cancer Society. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/&amp;amp;#64;epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-026238.pdf&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/&amp;amp;#64;epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-026238.pdf&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Pui, C., Relling, M., Downing, J. \u201CMechanisms of Disease: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia\u201D &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;New England Journal of Medicine&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; 2004 350:15.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER). National Cancer Institute. &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/alyl.html&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/alyl.html&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Wujcik, D. Leukemia. In Yarbro, C., Frogge, M., Goodman, M. and Groenwald, S. eds (2000). &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Cancer Nursing: Principles and Practice 5th ed&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; Jones and Bartlett: Sudbury: MA (pp. 1244-1269).&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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