Is leukemia curable? Research, treatments and more (2023)

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leukemiaIt is a type of cancer that affects the blood cells and bone marrow. As with other types of cancer.There is currently no cureby leukemia

People with leukemia sometimes go into remission, a state after diagnosis and treatment in which the cancer is no longer detectable in the body. However, the cancer can come back because of the cells that remain in your body.

The exact outlook depends on the type of leukemia, the stage of the disease, and your condition.To alter. But research and treatment advances point to the possibility of a cure that makes the leukemia unlikely to return.

Immunotherapies and targeted therapies are ofof special interest to researchers. Learn about the latest research on advances in leukemia treatment, including treatments for the main types of leukemia.

What does the research say?

Traditionally, leukemia is mainly treated with chemotherapy orradiotherapy. Stem cell transplants can also be used along with chemotherapy, especially in children.

Immunotherapy and targeted therapies are newer treatments for certain types of leukemia. Ongoing research is looking at different forms of these therapies to potentially treat cancer at earlier stages before it progresses.

immunotherapy

immunotherapyit works by changing your immune system and making it easier for healthy cells to attack cancer cells in the body. Immunotherapy drugs can be taken orally or intravenously.

Depending on the type of immunotherapy, treatment may help:

• increase your T lymphocytes(T cell transfer therapy)
• maintain the integrity of immune cellsby preventing them from overreacting to leukemia cells (immune checkpoint inhibitors)

Targeted Therapy

Consisting of oral medications,Targeted Therapyhas been used more frequently in certain types of leukemia in recent years20 years.

As the name suggests, this treatment approach works by targeting genes or proteins that may help cancer cells grow. By altering the environment of the cancer in this way, the new cells are less likely to survive.

The treatment your doctor recommends depends not only on the stage of the cancer you are in, but also on the type. Acute types of leukemia progress faster than chronic types; early and aggressive treatment may be warranted.

Treatments for certain types of leukemia

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Here's what the research says about new treatments for each of the major types of leukemia.

Aguda myeloid leukemia (AML)

LMAIt is one of the fastest developing leukemias. It is alsothe most common typeof acute leukemia in adults. Children with leukemia may be at risk of developing AML as adults.

Due to its rapid progression, AML is usually treated with bothchemotherapyor radiation therapy to quickly kill cancer cells.

But recently, targeted therapies have emerged in the treatment of AML, particularly for the early stages of AML. Currently therecincoApproved targeted therapies for the treatment of AML and other options continue to be explored.

Other possible future treatments include:

• Adding proteins to chemotherapy to reduce adverse effects on healthy cells during treatment
• genetic modifiers

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

LMCit is the slower growing version of AML. This means that treatment in the early stages may not be as aggressive, leaving room for new options such as targeted therapies.

Researchers believe that in the early stages of CML, targeted therapies may work so well that survivors can and do achieve remission.a typical life expectancy.

Building on the success of targeted therapies for chronic myeloid leukemia, researchers are studying whether people can stop taking these drugs during remission. Targeted therapies are currently being consideredtaken for the rest of your life.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)

INconstitutes the majoritychild cancer. Although early treatment may be more successful than the other acute form of leukemia (AML), ALL can spread quickly.

Although chemotherapy andstem cellAlthough transplants can be used in children with ALL, researchers are also studying other treatments that do not carry as many risks of side effects as chemotherapy in older patients.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a newer type of immunotherapy for childhood ALL.

your body already has itT cells, but if you have cancer, they may not work the way they should. In CAR-T cell therapy, some T cells are removed and genetically modified with receptors to fight cancer more effectively.

CAR T-cell therapy is also being considered as a replacement for more toxic treatments for adult ALL, such as B.investigated chemotherapy.investigatorI also hope that one day it will replace stem cell transplants in older adults with B-cell ALL.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

newer treatments forLLCinclude targeted therapies, especially in combination.

As with the LMC,investigatorto investigate whether it is possible to stop targeted therapies during remission. CAR-T cell therapy is also being studied as a possible treatment for this type of leukemia.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a type of CLL that does not respond well to the same treatments. ButResearchers are currently testingvarious targeted therapies to treat this type of leukemia.

BothLLCand HCL progress more slowly than all other types of leukemia. To prevent the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your doctor may first try targeted therapies.

Another option may include "watchful waiting" to see how initial treatments are working before trying more aggressive treatments.

Leukemia in infants and young children

Acute leukemias are more typical in infants and children than the slow-growing versions. For this reason,standard treatmentstends to:

• Chemotherapy (sometimes with stem cell transplant)
• radiotherapy

Because of the risk of lifelong side effects, researchers are exploring other options, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

A drug called sorafenib (Nexavar) is being studied as a possible treatment that can be taken with chemotherapy to reduce side effects.

Apart from more possible targeted therapies,investigatorthey are also investigating gene fusions that can be taken with these drugs.

How can I live with leukemia?

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Despite successful emerging treatments for leukemia, there is no cure for this type of cancer.

And even if it responds well to treatment, getting a diagnosis of leukemia can be difficult, no matter what subtype you have or what stage it is in.

Here are some ideas that can help you cope with the effects of leukemia and its associated treatments:

• Learn more about the type of leukemia you have.Empower yourself with the knowledge and talk to doctors and experts about existing treatment options and what to expect.
• Seek support from friends and family.Ask your loved ones for help coping with the symptoms of leukemia or the side effects of treatment.
• Talk to other people who can empathize.It may be helpful to share your story with others living with leukemia or supporting a loved one with cancer.

Are there risks with the newer treatments for leukemia?

Talk to a doctor about the possible side effects of newer forms of immunotherapy or targeted therapy for leukemia.

The risks may vary from person to person and depend on the exact drugs you are taking in your treatment plan.

If you are giving immunotherapy intravenously, injection site reactions may occur, including:

• redness
• rash
• swelling
• itching
• pain

Oral Immunotherapy Side Effects

Oral immunotherapy drugs can cause flu-like symptoms, such as:

• shaking chills
• Fever
• body pain
• fatigue
• Headache
• dizziness
• nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• sinus pain and constipation
• labored breathing

Complications of immunotherapy can include:

• palpitations
• changes in blood pressure
• infections
• organ inflammation
• severe allergic or inflammatory reactions

Therapy-Specific Side Effects

Possible side effects of targeted therapy may include:

• fatigue
• skin rash
• Fever
• Headache
• mouth ulcers
• nausea
• diarrhea or constipation
• Infection
• swelling of hands or feet
• growth retardation (in children)
• Hepatic injury

What is the outlook for leukemia treatments and cures?

The overall 5-year survival rate for leukemia is estimated to be63.7 percent.

As older new treatments have emerged, the death rate for this type of cancer is also declining. Leukemia has only caught up in 20203.8 percentof all cancer-related deaths.

Acute types of leukemia can affect your outlook because they tend to progress more quickly. Your age, general health, and individual responses to treatment will also affect your prognosis.

The survival rate is also higher in humans.under 65 years, where children experience the lowest percentage of leukemia-related deaths.

What are the next steps I should take?

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There is currently no cure for leukemia, but new treatments and technologies could one day help researchers find cures for cancer.

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are being explored to effectively treat leukemia subtypes at earlier stages.

Talk to a doctor about the best treatment options available for your type of leukemia. You can also ask a doctor about it.Participation in clinical studiesif you are interested in experimental treatments.