In the treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), monoclonal antibody therapy is used as what part of the regimen?

• A. An additional therapy alongside chemotherapy, HSCT, and corticosteroids
• B. The sole therapy
• C. Only used in relapsed disease
• D. Not used at all

Answer: (A)

Monoclonal antibody therapy is used as an added component to the standard chemotherapy-based treatment plan for ALL. Treatment is multimodal: induction to induce remission, consolidation, CNS prophylaxis, and often hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for high-risk cases. Antibodies provide targeted activity against leukemia cells by recognizing specific surface antigens (like CD19, CD20, or CD22) and supporting immune mechanisms or delivering cytotoxic payloads. They enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy rather than replacing it, and they’re used alongside the core regimen (which typically includes corticosteroids and other chemotherapy agents). In practice, you’ll see antibodies incorporated to boost response rates—sometimes in front-line regimens for certain antigen-positive subtypes, and also as part of salvage therapy for relapsed disease—rather than as the sole treatment.