St. Jude Total Therapy studies from I to XVII for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a brief review

• Published in: Journal of Egyptian National Cancer Institute Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 1 - 20
• Main Authors: Omar, Abdallah A., Basiouny, Lina, Elnoby, Ahmed S., Zaki, Abeer, Abouzid, Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 13.06.2022; Springer; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Acute lymphocytic leukemia; ALL; Cancer; Care and treatment; Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Medicine, Preventive; Oncology; Oncology, Experimental; Preventive health services; Review; St. Jude; Total Therapy; Vincristine; Marshall Islands; Egypt; Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia; ALL; Total Therapy; St. Jude
• ISSN: 1110-0362; 2589-0409
• DOI: 10.1186/s43046-022-00126-3

The therapy design of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has evolved over the past 60 years. The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has developed 17 treatment protocols from 1962 to 2017, aiming to have the most effective and least toxic treatment form. This review summarizes each protocol’s objectives, inclusion criteria, treatment phases, pharmacological agents, irradiation therapy, response criteria, risk stratification, type of relapse, and overall survival. The enhancement and successful application of preventive therapy for ALL and following a risk-stratified approach have progressively improved the cure rate of childhood ALL, with relatively few adverse sequelae. Moreover, St. Jude’s scientific theme serves as a reminder of the principal factor of research directed to a catastrophic disease such as ALL.