Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow. Young white cells called lymphoblasts grow out of control and push out the normal blood cells. Families often first notice tiredness and paleness (anaemia), fevers and infections that keep coming back, or bruising and bleeding that happen too easily.

ALL is the most common cancer in children, but adults can also get it. Most cases are of the B-cell type.

How treatment usually goes
A hematology-oncology team plans the treatment in stages:
- induction: the first, strong phase that aims for remission
- consolidation: clears the leukemia cells that are left
- maintenance: a longer phase that lowers the risk of the disease coming back

Many patients also get treatment to protect the brain and spinal cord. After treatment, doctors test for minimal residual disease (MRD). This is a very small number of leukemia cells that ordinary tests cannot see, and the result helps decide the next step.

If B-cell ALL comes back or does not respond
For CD19-positive B-cell ALL that has relapsed, is refractory, or is still MRD-positive, hematologists may discuss blinatumomab. This immunotherapy brings the patient's own T cells next to the leukemia cells so the immune system can destroy them. It runs as a continuous drip through a small pump, usually in 28-day cycles. The US FDA first approved it in 2014. It is not registered in India yet, but it can be imported legally for one named patient on the hematologist's prescription and kept at 2–8°C. More on Blincyto in India: https://namedpatientprogram.com/m/hematology/blincyto

This is general information only. Treatment choices are made by the patient's hematologist.

Named Patient Program (NPP), Ikris Pharma Network, Noida
Phone: +91 9310090915. A doctor's prescription is required.