Immunotherapy for B-acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Focusing on Monoclonal Antibody and CAR- T-cell Application

Abstract

Considerable advances have been made in treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with an overall survival rate of 85% in children, and in great improvement in adults. Despite this improvement and the accessibility of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, relapsed ALL remains a leading cause of childhood mortality emphasizing the need of new approaches on therapy. Leukemia cells express numerous surface antigens amenable to target therapies, consist of CD20, CD22, and CD19. Monoclonal antibodies which target these antigens have improved the outcomes in B-cell ALL. Rituximab is the best known monoclonal antibody which is routinely used in combination with chemotherapy for treatment of adult B-cell ALL. Monoclonal antibodies including unconjugated and conjugated antibodies to cytotoxic agents for treatment of B-cell ALL are now under investigation. In this article we update the results and current status of investigational monoclonal antibody-based therapies in ALL.