Duration of maintenance therapy

Source: Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: April 21, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

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Context: Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Childhood ALL / Standard Postinduction Treatment Options for Childhood ALL / Maintenance therapy

Maintenance chemotherapy generally continues for 2 to 3 years of continuous CR. On some studies, boys are treated longer than girls.[71] In other trials, there is no difference in the duration of treatment based on sex.[67,74] It is not clear whether longer duration of maintenance therapy reduces relapse in boys, especially in the context of current therapies.[74][Level of evidence B4] Extending the duration of maintenance therapy beyond 3 years does not improve outcome.[120]

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