Intrathecal DepoCyte and Lineage-targeted Minimal Residual Disease-oriented Therapy of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The aim of this clinical study in adult ALL is to compare by risk category (1) the feasibility of two different CNS prophylaxis regimens and (2) the overall disease-free survival in relation to the achievement of an early MRD negative status and following consolidation with lineage-targeted methotrexate infusions and other disease-specific therapeutic elements, with or without the application of allogeneic or autologous SCT depending on risk class and MRD study results. In this multicentric prospective pilot randomized phase II trial on CNS prophylaxis, all patients receive induction/consolidation therapy incorporating lineage-targeted high-dose methotrexate plus other drugs (with additional imatinib in Ph/BCR-ABL+ ALL), for the achievement of an early negative MRD status. The MRD study supports a risk/MRD-oriented final consolidation phase.