Five Things to Know About Leukemia Treatment
Because the several types of leukemia require a different approach, leukemia treatment is grounded in evidence-based practices adapted to each patient’s unique needs. This often results in a better outcome and quality of life.
We are dedicated to dispelling myths around leukemia treatment, including the thought that leukemia treatments are only for younger patients.
If you’ve been diagnosed with leukemia and are getting ready to start treatment, the information below can help you prepare.
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Schedule an AppointmentMore patients can be referred for bone marrow transplant
Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) transplant and collection center with a cellular immunotherapy team focused exclusively on blood and bone marrow transplants. Currently, only about 20% of patients who could benefit from a transplant are receiving them and many are not even referred for treatment.
Patients with high-risk cancers like multiple myeloma should be referred and evaluated for BMT upon diagnosis. Those diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma should be referred and evaluated for transplant if a first line of therapy fails.
At Moffitt, we successfully offer bone marrow transplant (BMT) treatment to healthy adults over 70 years old. Phil Jones, a Longtime CBS Reporter and Moffitt Board of Advisor Member was treated after 70 and went on to live many years. Phil credited Moffitt for giving him the gifts of hope and time, as other centers were not willing to treat his condition with a bone marrow transplant at his age and gave him only a short time to live.
Many patients achieve complete or partial remission.
While leukemia outcomes are different depending on the type of cancer and other factors, treatment on the whole is very effective. For example, up to 90 percent of adults who have acute lymphocytic leukemia achieve complete remission and the overall leukemia survival rate has more than quadrupled since 1960.
As Florida's largest and leading BMT center, Moffitt is proud to share that our 1-year allogenic survival rates surpass the expected rate for our cancer center. Moffitt is one of only 12 transplant centers with survival rates above predicted rates.
Alternative leukemia treatments help patients with refractory leukemia
Leukemia that doesn't go into remission after the first treatment is called refractory leukemia and several medications are recommended for these patients. A stem cell transplant may also be an option.
Immunotherapy, an emerging treatment, uses the body’s immune cells to target cancer. CAR T-cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy, modifies a patient’s T-cells in a lab.
CAR T-cell therapy has shown effectiveness in relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and some chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with many patients achieving long-term remission. Researchers continue to optimize its effectiveness and manage side effects.
Maintenance therapy can help reduce the likelihood of a recurrence.
Once an initial course of treatment is complete, oncologists may recommend maintenance therapy, which typically involves low-dose medications. Depending on a patient’s specific diagnosis, this phase may last for up to two years.
Clinical trials
Some patients with refractory leukemia choose to enroll in a clinical trial to access novel therapies that aren’t yet offered in other settings.
To learn more about leukemia treatment, consult with the expert oncologists in Moffitt Cancer Center’s Malignant Hematology Program. Call 1-888-663-3488 or submit a new patient registration form online to request an appointment; no referral is required.