BCOP Clinical Session I — Philadelphia-like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Understanding and Closing a Health Disparity

Over the past 20 years, an increased understanding of the cytogenetic and molecular subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has revolutionized the treatment approaches and drastically improved outcomes. One of the more recently characterized subtypes of ALL is Philadelphia-like ALL (Ph-like ALL). Although it does not express the BCR-ABL fusion gene, it has a behavior like true BCR/ABL1–positive cases. Most notably, Ph-like ALL is emerging as a poor-prognostic factor with significantly worse response to treatment and survival when compared to other Ph-negative subgroups. Genomic profiling often finds kinase-activating alterations but the incorporation of targeted therapy for Ph-like disease remains controversial. Of note, approximately 25% of adults with ALL have the Ph-like ALL and over 60% of all patients with Ph-like ALL identify as Hispanic.

This education session will review the background of Ph-like ALL, the currently treatment strategies, a resultant health disparity for Latino/Latina patients with ALL, and areas of ongoing and needed research. This will empower the oncology pharmacist to better care for patients with Ph-like ALL.

This activity is approved for Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) recertification credit.

The BCOP Clinical Sessions are part of the professional development program for the recertification of board-certified Oncology pharmacists by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties and jointly provided by ACCP and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). In order to earn BCOP recertification credit, participants must attend the session, claim the continuing pharmacy education credit, and pass the associated posttest. Access to the Clinical Sessions posttests will be available on December 17, 2025, at www.accp.com/myaccount to anyone who has purchased access to the BCOP posttest. For participants who have not purchased access to the posttests, access can be purchased until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, at the ACCP Registration Desk. The deadline to submit posttests for these sessions will be December 15, 2026. 

	Speaker: Shawn P. Griffin, Pharm.D.   View Biography
	Speaker: Lydia Benitez, Pharm.D., BCOP Clinical Associate Professor University of Michigan College of Pharmacy Ann Arbor, Michigan   View Biography