Chronic Phase
Overview The diagnosis of CML is made in approximately 20% of affected individuals by detecting a high white blood cell count on routine blood testing. Patients are usually without symptoms and often have difficulty understanding the serious nature of their disease since they do not feel ill. CML is generally not considered to be a…
Accelerated Phase
Overview Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is the abnormal growth of relatively mature myeloid white blood cells. The disease is associated with a chromosomal abnormality in which genetic material from chromosome 9 is transferred to chromosome 22. The chromosome containing the genetic switch is called the Philadelphia chromosome; this chromosome plays a role in the development…
Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Overview Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children is a malignant disease or cancer of the blood characterized by the rapid uncontrolled growth of abnormal, immature white blood cells known as lymphoblasts. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common leukemia in children, with approximately 3,000 new patients diagnosed each year in the United States. Progress in treating…
Screening/Prevention
Overview Information about the prevention of cancer and the science of screening appropriate individuals at high-risk of developing cancer is gaining interest. Physicians and individuals alike recognize that the best “treatment” of cancer is preventing its occurrence in the first place or detecting it early when it may be most treatable. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)…
Remission Induction
Overview Researchers have learned that the best way to cure children with ALL is to administer large doses of several chemotherapeutic drugs over a short period of time. The concept is to kill leukemia cells quickly before resistance to the drugs occurs. Therapy is divided into two phases, remission induction and post-remission therapy. Remission induction…