Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in children, affecting the bone marrow and blood. Sixty years ago, ALL was considered incurable. Today, survival rates exceed 90% for many children, reflecting decades of collaboration and progress in pediatric cancer research.

Treatment typically includes multiple chemotherapy agents delivered over two to three years, most often in an outpatient setting. While children with either B-cell or T-cell ALL were once treated with uniform approaches, ALL is now understood as a group of molecularly distinct subtypes. This has enabled more precise, risk-adapted treatment strategies designed to improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary toxicity.

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COG’s Work in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Chemotherapy remains foundational to ALL treatment, but not all children achieve permanent remission, and many experience short- and long-term side effects. COG is advancing treatment through clinical trials studying immunotherapies and targeted therapies, with several already improving outcomes—some with reduced side effects.  Patient samples are helping researchers better understand how ALL develops and behaves, enabling more precise, personalized treatment approaches. This work is also informing efforts to reduce the long-term impact of therapy for survivors. Despite significant progress, not all children benefit equally from treatment. COG is actively studying how differences in access to care and other factors affect outcomes to ensure advances in treatment reach all children.

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ALL: Key Statistics

  • > 0 %

    Survival rates for many children today, increased from <10% in the 1960s.

  • 0

    New agents studied in 15+ COG clinical trials over the past 25 years, with many now FDA-approved.

Recent Publications

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I'm still trying to wrap my head around being part of something that literally changed the way we treat the most common childhood cancer...We went from running a clinical trial to determining a new standard of care.

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COG Member Institutions

COG’s 220+ member institutions study and treat children and adolescents with cancer across a global network. These sites support patients from diagnosis through treatment and beyond, connecting families to clinical trials and specialized care closer to home.

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News from COG

As the world’s largest pediatric cancer research network, COG drives breakthroughs in treatment and improves outcomes for children with cancer. Explore the latest news and stories from across our global community.

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The future for children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is shaped by today’s research.

Your support helps fuel discoveries that deepen understanding and move us closer to cures and more effective treatments.

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