A tour of leukemia progress in 2025, viewed through the MD Anderson leukemia research lens

Advances in the prognostication, monitoring, and treatment of both the acute and chronic leukemias have led to drastically improved outcomes over the past 2 decades. With the advent of targeted therapies, including antibodies such as blinatumomab and inotuzumab and small molecule inhibitors, such as the BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and venetoclax, the treatment landscape of leukemia has drastically changed, improving survival outcomes while relying less on overall chemotherapy intensity in many leukemia types. This progress has allowed the categorization of more leukemia types as favorable (i.e., chronic lymphocytic leukemia, younger acute lymphoblastic leukemia [patients younger than 60 years], and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia) in addition to the traditional favorable subtypes of acute promyelocytic leukemia, core-binding factor acute myelocytic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia. Advancements in the treatment of TP53-mutated, MECOM-rearranged, and treated secondary AML are still needed to improve outcomes in these adverse risk groups. The authors also review the recent progress in the treatment of the acute and chronic leukemias.