Adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A specific management

The acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the first cancer for which emerged the particularity of the adolescent and young adult population. After decades of poorly concerted approaches, adult and pediatric haematologists found out that adolescents treated according to pediatric approaches had a better outcome than those treated in adult protocols. Therefore, pediatric-inspired therapies have been successfully implemented in the young adult population, leading to decreased criteria for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. More recently, a high prevalence of Philadelphia-like ALL has been identified in the AYA population, which opens the door to the combination of target therapy similar to Philadelphia-positive ALL. AYA patients require specific care programs including fertility counselling, adhesion evaluation, and long-term survivor follow-up. They are to be optimally treated by multidisciplinary teams, exploring their personal needs and determining the best management of the "whole patient''.