Blinatumomab is changing the standard of care paradigms of newly diagnosed and relapsed pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Summary Since 2016, a relevant number of phase I, II, and III trials performed with children and adolescents with CD19-positive B‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have studied the use of the bi-specific T‑cell engager antibody blinatumomab with respect to both improving disease outcomes and reducing therapy-related toxicities. All studies reported to date, from infants to older adults with B‑ALL, have shown a definitive advantage for blinatumomab intercalated into multidrug chemotherapy regimens or, in some trials, as a replacement of intensive chemotherapy phases. Conclusively, blinatumomab-based therapy is rapidly being established as the new standard of care for treatment of pediatric patients ≥ 1 month of age with CD19 + B-ALL as part of consolidation of a multiphase chemotherapy. The story of the success of blinatumomab in childhood B‑ALL is summarized in the current review article.