Dr. Tasian on Challenges in Treating Pediatric Patients With Ph-Like ALL

Sarah K. Tasian, MD, an attending physician and assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses the challenges in treating pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

One of the first hurdles in the treatment paradigm is genetic diagnostics, explains Tasian. Physicians have to be able to identify these patients relatively quickly. Induction therapy, which consists of 1 month of chemotherapy, is never altered for patients, states Tasian. Nonetheless, physicians have to be able to identify these patients before the end of induction therapy in order to introduce other therapeutic agents. Currently used therapies include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Another challenge in pediatric oncology as a whole, says Tasian, is access to novel therapies. Recently, more pharmaceutical companies have shown interest in partnering with physicians to facilitate access to novel therapies like TKIs for patients, says Tasian.