Immunotherapy in Acute Leukemias: Past Success Paves the Way for Future Progress

Immunotherapy as a cancer treatment modality has undergone recent widespread proliferation across all types, especially amongst patients with solid tumors. However, the longest tenured immunotherapy approach to is allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for two hematologic malignancies: acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia (AML ALL, respectively). While allo-SCT remains standard of care eligible patients, advances/applications monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), CAR therapy are changing landscape these leukemias by either direct tumor targeting or through decreased toxicities that expand patient eligibility. Pre-clinical data clinical trials have shown promising results novel immunotherapies in leukemia, multiple ongoing investigating approaches. there been approaches, particularly relapsed/refractory setting, remain challenges optimizing use therapies, such managing cytokine release syndrome other immune-related toxicities. rapidly evolving field potential significantly impact management both AML ALL. This review highlights history leukemias, evolution into more targeted benefits limitations different research development field.