Prof Bhavana Bhatnagar speaks to ecancer about the phase III ECOG-ACRIN E1910 study.

This study examined whether delays between consolidation and maintenance therapy affect outcomes in adults with MRD-negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Dr Bhatnagar says that surprisingly, longer delays before starting maintenance were associated with improved overall survival and did not worsen relapse-free survival, regardless of whether patients received blinatumomab or chemotherapy alone.

The findings suggest that treatment delays during consolidation may allow patients to complete full protocol-assigned therapy without negatively impacting outcomes, providing reassurance in the management of this complex treatment regimen.