Editing Patient Pathways: Leukemia (section)

== 2. Treatment ==

'''Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting'''

'''MDT discussion:''' Review of diagnostic findings with specialists including endocrinologists, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists.

'''Treatment plan development:''' Based on the stage of leukemia and the patient’s overall health.

'''Treatment options'''

'''Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)'''

'''Chemotherapy:'''

'''Induction of remission:''' The initial phase of treatment to reduce the number of leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow. It consists of high doses of chemotherapy drugs.

'''Consolidation:''' A procedure to eliminate remaining leukemia cells and achieve long-term remission.

'''Maintenance:''' Long-term chemotherapy to prevent the disease from coming back.

'''Radiation therapy:'''

'''CNS prophylaxis:''' Radiation of the brain and spinal cord may be necessary to prevent leukemia in the central nervous system, especially in patients at high risk of CNS involvement.

'''Biological therapy:'''

'''Immunotherapy:''' Using monoclonal antibodies or other immunotherapies to target leukemia cells.

'''Stem cell transplantation:'''

'''Autologous transplantation:''' Using the patient’s own stem cells, usually after intensive chemotherapy.

'''Allogeneic transplantation:''' Taking stem cells from a donor, often after high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation.

'''Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)'''

'''Chemotherapy:'''

'''Induction of remission:''' A combination of drugs to rapidly eliminate leukemia cells from the blood and bone marrow.

'''Consolidation:''' Continuation of chemotherapy to prevent the disease from coming back and eliminate remaining leukemia cells.

'''Radiation therapy:'''

'''Radiation:''' Used in specific situations, such as cases with a large number of leukemia cells in certain organs.

'''Targeted therapy:'''

'''Targeted therapy:''' Using drugs that target specific molecular abnormalities within leukemia cells.

'''Stem cell transplantation:'''

'''Autologous or allogeneic transplantation:''' Recommended for patients at high risk of relapse, often after high-dose chemotherapy.

'''Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)'''

'''Stage classification:'''

'''Early stage:''' Can only be monitored (active monitoring) without the need for immediate treatment. Advanced stage: Treatment is started when symptoms worsen or the disease spreads.

'''Chemotherapy and biological therapy:'''

'''Chemotherapy:''' A combination of drugs that reduce the number of leukemia cells.

'''Biological therapy:''' Drugs such as monoclonal antibodies (e.g. rituximab) that target specific markers on CLL cells.

'''Targeted therapy:'''

'''Targeted therapy:''' Drugs that block specific molecular pathways needed for leukemia cell growth and survival (e.g. kinase inhibitors).

'''Stem cell transplantation:'''

'''Allogeneic transplantation:''' Considered for patients with aggressive disease or those who do not respond to other treatments.

'''Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)'''

'''Targeted therapy:'''

'''Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs):''' Drugs such as imatinib (Gleevec), dasatinib, and nilotinib that target the Philadelphia chromosome and block signaling pathways used by leukemia cells for growth and survival.

'''Chemotherapy:'''

'''Chemotherapy:''' It can be used in combination with TKIs in certain cases, especially if the disease is not controlled with TKIs.

'''Stem cell transplantation:'''

'''Allogeneic transplantation:''' May be considered if TKIs are not working or if the disease cannot be controlled.

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