Recent advances in the treatment of pediatric acute leukemia

Over the past few decades, the survival rates of childhood acute leukemia have improved remarkably through treatment in risk-stratified prospective multicenter studies, and treatment protocols have evolved according to prognostic factors and treatment response. Recently, new molecular prognostic factors have been discovered through leukemic genome studies, and new subtypes with independent gene expression profiles have also been found. Furthermore, candidate mutations for target agents are being discovered, which will broaden therapeutic options for patients with poor prognostic factors. New drugs are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, and immunotherapy is now attracting interest in the treatment of recurrent or refractory disease in pediatric acute leukemia.