Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing blood cancer that starts in your bone marrow and spreads. It mainly affects kids ages 2 to 5, but adults can get it, too. There are different types based on which white blood cells are affected. The good news: Treatment often leads to a cure.
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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare blood cancer that affects your lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). It starts in your bone marrow, but it can spread (metastasize) throughout your body.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Acute lymphocytic leukemia makes up less than 1% of all cancers in the U.S. It’s most common in children, but anyone can get it. Most ALL cases affect children ages 2 to 5.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a serious condition. But treatment can help. In many cases, it can cure it.
The two main types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia are:
A third type, natural killer ALL, is very rare.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia symptoms may include:
Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have ALL. But you should always talk to a healthcare provider about changes in your body that last longer than two weeks.
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Genetic mutations (changes) cause acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Young children with ALL may have had gene changes that happened before they were born. Or you might inherit conditions that make you more likely to develop ALL. In adults, acute lymphoblastic leukemia is linked to some carcinogens, including tobacco.
Certain factors can increase your chances of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL):
If ALL spreads to your brain or spine, it may cause the following complications:
A healthcare provider will start with a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. They’ll want to know how long they’ve lasted and how they interfere with your everyday life.
To confirm a diagnosis, you may need:
Doctors can treat ALL with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, a bone marrow transplant or a mix of these treatments. The treatment depends on certain markers found on the cancer cells. Kids and adults may get different types of medicine and care.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the main treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It happens in four phases, with the goal of reaching complete remission — when you have no symptoms and no signs of cancer in your body.
Treatment can last several months to a few years and often involves high doses of cancer-fighting drugs. Palliative care specialists may help manage side effects.
The four phases of chemotherapy include:
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Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy works by focusing on gene changes that turn healthy cells into cancer.
Healthcare providers use a type of targeted treatment called tyrosine kinase (TKI) therapy for people with a specific mutation known as the Philadelphia chromosome — also called t(9;22) or BCR/ABL.
TKI therapy blocks an enzyme that cancer cells need to grow. This helps kill the cancer and allows your body to start making healthy blood cells again.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps your body’s own immune system attack cancer cells. For acute lymphoblastic leukemia, it may involve monoclonal antibodies or CAR-T cell therapy.
Radiation therapy
Healthcare providers may use radiation therapy to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia that returns or resists chemotherapy.
Bone marrow transplant
If other treatments don’t stop symptoms, your provider may recommend a donor bone marrow transplant.
The outlook for acute lymphoblastic leukemia is generally positive, even with aggressive treatment. Studies show 98% of children go into remission when treated at a center of excellence. Recurrence — when cancer returns — is rare, affecting less than 1% of cases. In adults, treatment is less successful and recurrence is more common than in children.
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The overall five-year survival rate for ALL is 72%. That means that 72% of children and adults diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia will still be alive five years later.
Young children have the highest survival rate, around 90%. The five-year survival rate for adults with ALL is around 30% to 40%.
It’s important to know that survival rates are just estimates. They can’t tell you how long you’ll live or how you’ll respond to treatment. To learn more about survival rates and what they mean for you, talk to your healthcare provider.
A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, especially when it’s your child. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is more treatable than many other cancers — and in many cases, it can be cured. Lean on your care team. They’ll create a personalized treatment plan, explain what to expect and support you every step of the way.
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Helping your child through a cancer diagnosis can be hard. Cleveland Clinic Children’s is here with support and treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Last reviewed on 05/13/2025.
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