There is a great deal of research being conducted in the area of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Clinical trials and scientific studies are being conducted in cancer centers and laboratories by a number of medical groups. Areas of research for ALL include:

• Imatinib. This drug has been designed specifically to damage cells that have the Philadelphia chromosome, a translocation that is found in some ALL patients. It works by preventing chemcial reactions that cause cells to grow and divide. In clinical trials, the drug has shown promising results for treatment of Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL. Clinical trials are currently being conducted to study the success of using imatinib alone and in combination with chemotherapy in treating various forms of leukemia.
  
  Researchers are studying two additional drugs that work as targeted therapies in ALL patients. These drugs, dasatinib and nilotinib, are being studied as treatment for ALL patients with the Philadelphia mutation. Clincial trials have suggested that these drugs may be beneficial for patients who are intolerant of or resistant to imatinib. 
  
  
• Genetics. Researchers are trying to uncover how changes in a person’s DNA can cause normal bone marrow cells to develop into abnormal leukemia cells. Advances in cytogenetics are helping researchers analyze chromosome abnormalities for earlier detection and targeted treatment. Other techniques, such as gene expression profiling may help identify risk factors and plan targeted therapy.
  
  
• Chemotherapy. New chemotherapy drugs are being studied. Other studies have focused on preventing leukemia cells from becoming resistant to chemotherapy, and determining the most effective combination of drugs. Researchers are trying to determine whether patients with poor prognosis benefit from more intensive chemotherapy. 
  
  
• Monoclonal antibodies. These proteins are made in a laboratory and can be designed to attach to certain molecules on the surface of ALL cells. Radioactive chemicals or cell poisons can also be attached to the antibodies in an approach known as radioimmunotherapy.  When injected into a person with leukemia, the antibodies destroy the cancer cells. Several different monoclonal antibodies are currently being studied for use in the treatment of ALL.
  
  
• Stem cell transplantation. Researchers are looking for ways to increase the effectiveness of stem cell transplantation, as well as reduce complications and determine which patients benefit most from the procedure.