[ Care pathway for acute leukemia ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/cancer/care-pathway-acute-leukemia#treatment-begins)--- # Treatment of acute leukemia ## Initial chemotherapy, also known as induction therapy --- In addition to traditional chemotherapy, the initial treatments for acute leukemia (induction therapy) may include combinations of antibodies and chemotherapy or other drugs targeted at the specific characteristics of the disease. We administer the medicines intravenously, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly. Some of the drugs are taken orally in tablet form. ### What is the low-cell phase? Induction therapy is followed by a low cell phase of 2 to 5 weeks, during which the immune system is particularly weak and the susceptibility to infections is high. During the low cell phase, you will often need red blood cell and platelet infusions, as well as other supportive therapies such as antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-nausea medications. During the low cell phase, you will be either on a ward or partially in home care in accordance with your condition and an overall assessment of the situation. ### How is the efficacy of acute leukemia treatment assessed? In addition to your condition, we assess the effectiveness of treatment, i.e. response to treatment, based on blood tests and bone marrow sample tests. The goal of the treatment is remission, i.e. the complete disappearance of leukemia cells. This usually happens 1–3 months after the start of leukemia treatment. We typically assess the treatment response in bone marrow samples for the first time at the two-week mark. We will take the next samples once you have recovered from the induction therapy, approximately one month after the start of treatment. If leukemia remission is not achieved with the first induction therapy, we will administer a second induction therapy with different types of drugs. For elderly or frail leukemia patients, we can also provide lighter leukemia treatments conducted at the outpatient clinic. In most cases, they do not require similar long-term care on the ward. Please note that with lighter forms of treatment, it is not possible to achieve a permanent cure for leukemia. ## Treatments following initial treatment, i.e. remission stabilization therapies --- After recovering from the initial treatment for leukemia, i.e. induction therapy, we provide remission stabilization therapies, which aim to achieve long-term remission and cure leukemia permanently. We provide stabilization therapy in accordance with a disease-specific treatment regimen. In the treatment regimen, we take into account whether your treatment also aims at hematological stem cell transplantation. The exact subtype of leukemia, the treatment regimen chosen and the response to treatment determine the number of stabilization therapies to be administered and the possible need for stem cell transplantation. We usually give lighter leukemia medication treatments in four-week cycles as long as they are useful to you, i.e. your blood counts remain stable and the leukemia cells are gone. ## Maintenance treatments --- If a stem cell transplant is not planned in your case, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) we will give you lighter stabilization therapy after the first and second-phase treatments to prevent the leukemia from recurring. Treatments last from diagnosis up to 2.5 years. We primarily administer stabilization therapy in tablet form. To prevent central nervous system leukemia, we also administer small doses of medication into the cerebrospinal fluid. In some subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we can provide maintenance therapy for 12–24 months. ## Stem cell transplantation --- Stem cell transplantation from a healthy donor is, excluding special cases, the most effective treatment for acute leukemia. We perform the stem cell transplantation on Hematology Ward 7B at Meilahti Triangle Hospital. The upper age limit for stem cell transplantation is approximately 70 years. In addition to its potential benefits, stem cell transplantation also carries a risk of graft-versus-host disease and serious infections. When making a decision about your transplant, the physician will conduct an individualized risk assessment that takes into account - the subtype of leukemia - your treatment response - any adverse effects of the initial treatment - your general state of health, and - finding a suitable sibling donor or registry donor. Before deciding on the procedure, you will have a discussion with the physician performing the stem cell transplant to select the final treatment plan. ## Phase of the service path ## From symptoms to diagnosis ## Getting a diagnosis ## Treatments ## After treatments Paragraph Updated: 06.05.2026 Print this page