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