Tyrosine kinase inhibitors which target the philadelphia chromosome are increasingly finding an application for treating older patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, according to Robin Foa, President of the European Haematology Association, speaking during the annual meeting in London. For ecancer tv he notes the victories which have already been won against childhood ALL and points out that with the armoury of old and new tki inhibitors now available an increasing number of older patients with the disease can be treated effectively with many of the drugs effective against chronic myeloid leukaemia. He mentions highlights of the 2011 meeting including double cord blood transplantation, maintenance therapy in mantle cell lymphoma and the growing international attendance at the European meeting which he believes reflects the expanding importance of haematology in an aging society and the need for increased funding from the European Union