Treatment phases of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Remission induction is the first phase of treatment. The goal is to kill the leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow. This puts the leukemia into remission.

Consolidation/intensification is the second phase of treatment. It begins once the leukemia is in remission. The goal of consolidation/intensification therapy is to kill any leukemia cells that remain in the body and may cause a relapse.

Maintenance is the third phase of treatment. The goal is to kill any remaining leukemia cells that may regrow and cause a relapse. Often the cancer treatments are given in lower doses than those used during the remission induction and consolidation/intensification phases. This is also called the continuation therapy phase.

whether the leukemia cells began from B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes

if your child has standard-risk, high-risk, or very high-risk ALL

your child's age at the time of diagnosis

whether there are certain changes in the chromosomes of lymphocytes, such as the Philadelphia chromosome

whether your child was treated with dexamethasone or prednisone before the start of remission induction therapy

how quickly and how low the leukemia cell count drops during treatment

if leukemia was found in the central nervous system