The Haematology & Oncology Centre at Hong Kong Children's Hospital has been delivering high-quality advanced therapy services for children with high-risk malignant conditions since late 2018.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy. With improvements in standard chemotherapy and supportive care, the 5-year event-free survival rate for low-risk ALL is nearing 90%. However, treatment options have been limited for patients who experience relapse, especially early relapse, or have refractory leukemia. Advances in precision medicine have revolutionized treatment for high-risk malignancies through novel and targeted therapies. Significant progress in diagnostic and monitoring strategies, such as extensive use of genetic and molecular sequencing, along with ex-vivo chemosensitivity testing for refractory leukemia, have enhanced diagnosis accuracy, disease monitoring, and treatment selection. These advancements ultimately influence prognosis.
