Remission from B-Cell ALL with Chemo-Free Induction Therapy

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting BCR-ABL are an integral component of initial therapy for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Investigators from the multicenter, phase 2 D-ALBA trial reported long-term outcomes for 63 patients (age range, 24–82; median, 54) treated with the TKI dasatinib plus the CD19/CD3 T-cell–engaging bispecific monoclonal antibody blinatumomab. Patients received 12-week cycles of corticosteroids for 7 days, dasatinib (140 mg/day) plus corticosteroids for 23 days, and dasatinib alone for 54 days. Daily dasatinib was continued during consolidation with 2 or more cycles of blinatumomab. Central nervous system prophylaxis was administered via lumbar puncture at multiple time po…