| Leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) of | | | | treatment of choice. Stem cell |
| the bone marrow and blood. It is | | | | transplantation is used instead of |
| characterized by the uncontrolled | | | | consolidative chemotherapy. Radiation therapy |
| accumulation of blood cells. In AML, the bone | | | | is used on painful bony areas, in high |
| marrow makes many unformed cells called | | | | disease burdens, or as part of the |
| blasts. AML starts with a change to a single | | | | preparations for a bone marrow transplant |
| cell in the bone marrow. With AML, the | | | | (total body irradiation). Stem cell |
| leukemic cells are often referred. to as | | | | transplant. Stem cell transplant is also used |
| blast cells. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) | | | | for consolidation therapy. It's similar to |
| is a fast-growing cancer in which the body | | | | bone marrow transplant except the stem cells |
| produces a large number of immature white | | | | are collected from circulating blood |
| blood cells (lymphocytes). AML is the most | | | | (peripheral blood). Induction therapy for |
| common acute leukemia affecting, and its | | | | children with AML starts with two or three |
| incidence increases with age. Acute leukemia | | | | drugs. Stronger treatment is needed after a |
| is a rapidly progressing disease that results | | | | child with AML is in remission. This is |
| in the accumulation of immature, functionless | | | | called intensive consolidation therapy. It is |
| cells in the marrow and blood. In acute | | | | given because usually some AML cells remain |
| leukemia, cancerous cells multiply quickly | | | | after induction therapy. Allogeneic stem cell |
| and replace normal cells. Cancerous cells | | | | transplant can be a high-risk procedure. For |
| take over normal parts of bone marrow, | | | | this reason, it may not be a good treatment |
| causing bone marrow failure. A person with | | | | for some AML patients. Bone marrow or cord |
| ALL is more likely to bleed and have | | | | blood transplant (also called a BMT) offers |
| infections because there are fewer normal | | | | some patients the best chance for a long-term |
| blood cells. Several congenital conditions | | | | remission of their disease. |
| may increase the risk of leukemia; the most | | | | |
| common is probably Down syndrome, which is | | | | Acute Leukemia for Treatment Tips |
| associated with a 10- to 18-fold increase in | | | | |
| the risk of AML. | | | | 1. Chemotherapy -- drugs that destroy cancer |
| | | | cells or stop them from growing. |
| Leukemia is divided into four categories: | | | | |
| myelogenous or lymphocytic, each of which can | | | | 2. Bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also |
| be acute or chronic. AML is more common in | | | | called a BMT) offers some patients the best |
| men than in women. Acute myelogenous leukemia | | | | chance for a long-term remission of their |
| is the most common form of leukemia. The | | | | disease. |
| difference is even more apparent in older | | | | |
| patients. Leukemia is one of the top 15 most | | | | 3. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) and |
| frequently occuring cancers in minority | | | | Monoclonal antibodies are proteins designed |
| groups. Leukemia incidence is highest among | | | | to attach to leukemia cells and help the |
| whites and lowest among American Indians and | | | | immune system destroy them. |
| Alaskan natives. Signs of AML are often | | | | |
| non-specific, and may be similar to those of | | | | 4. Biological therapy attempts to stimulate |
| influenza or other common illnesses. Some | | | | or restore the ability of your child's immune |
| generalized symptoms include fever, fatigue, | | | | system to fight cancer. |
| weight loss or loss of appetite, shortness of | | | | |
| breath with exertion, anemia, easy bruising | | | | 5. Avoiding smoking, exposure to toxic |
| or bleeding, petechiae (flat, pin-head sized | | | | chemicals, and exposure to radiation may help |
| spots under the skin caused by bleeding), | | | | prevent some cases of leukemia. |
| bone pain and joint pain and persistent or | | | | |
| frequent infections.This is likely because | | | | 6. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a monoclonal |
| myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are more | | | | antibody against CD33 (a molecule present on |
| common in men, and advanced MDS frequently | | | | most AML cells but not on normal stem cells) |
| evolves into AML. More than 11,900 new cases | | | | conjugated to calicheamicin (a potent |
| occur in the United States each year, mostly | | | | chemotherapy molecule). |
| in older. The average age of a person with | | | | |
| AML is 65 years. | | | | 7. Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a |
| | | | treatment that permits the use of doses of |
| Most of the standard treatment for ALL uses | | | | chemotherapy and radiation therapy high |
| chemotherapy.Chemotherapy is the initial | | | | enough to destroy the patient's bone marrow. |