Immunotherapy with or without low-intensity chemotherapy versus conventional chemotherapy as first-line treatment for newly diagnosed B-ALL patients fit for intensive chemotherapy: a propensity score-matched study

The study compared the efficacy of immunotherapy (blinatumomab or inotuzumab ozogamicin) with conventional chemotherapy in 50 patients with newly diagnosed B-ALL (B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia) who were fit for intensive treatment. The immunotherapy group achieved a higher rate of minimal residual disease negativity (88% versus 48%). Patients treated with immunotherapy had shorter durations of low neutrophil count, hemoglobin, and platelet levels. The immunotherapy group experienced fewer pulmonary infections (44% versus 84%) and required fewer red blood cell and platelet transfusions. The results suggest that immunotherapy as a first-line treatment shows promising early treatment responses and good tolerability in this patient population.