LEUKEMIA
Patient Advocacy Links:
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Leukemia Research Foundation
National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health – Leukemia Information
American Cancer Society
Leukemia* is a malignant disease (cancer) of the bone marrow and blood. It is characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells. Leukemia is divided into four categories: myelogenous or lymphocytic, each of which can be acute or chronic. The terms myelogenous or lymphocytic denote the cell type involved. Thus, the four major types of leukemia are:
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that results in the accumulation of immature, functionless cells in the marrow and blood. The marrow often can no longer produce enough normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in virtually all leukemia patients. The lack of normal white cells impairs the body’s ability to fight infections. A shortage of platelets results in bruising and easy bleeding.
Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and allows greater numbers of more mature, functional cells to be made.
New Cases
An estimated 44,240 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the United States in 2007. Chronic leukemias account for 7 percent more cases than acute leukemias. Most cases occur in older adults; more than half of all cases occur after age 67. Leukemia is expected to strike 10 times as many adults as children in 2007. (About 40,440 adults compared with 3,800 children, ages 0-19). About 33 percent of cancers in children ages 0-14 years are leukemia. The most common form of leukemia among children under 19 years of age is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).
The most common types of leukemia in adults are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), with an estimated 13,410 new cases this year, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with some 15,340 new cases this year. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is estimated to affect about 4,570 persons this year. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) will account for about 5,200 cases this year. Other unclassified forms of leukemia account for the 5,720 remaining cases.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of four main types of leukemia. About 15,340 new cases of CLL will be diagnosed in 2007. About 95,579 people are living with CLL. More people are living with CLL than any other type of leukemia. Most people with CLL are at least 50 years old.
CLL starts with a change to a single cell called a lymphocyte. Over time, the CLL cells multiply and replace normal lymphocytes in the marrow and lymph nodes. The high number of CLL cells in the marrow may crowd out normal blood-forming cells, and CLL cells are not able to fight infection like normal lymphocytes do.
Causes and Risk Factors
Exposure to high-dose radiation or benzene is not a risk factor for CLL, as is the case with some other types of leukemia. In certain families, more than one blood relative has CLL. However, this is not common. Doctors are studying CLL to understand why the initial change to the lymphocyte takes place. They are also studying why some families have more than one relative with CLL.
For additional information on Leukemia, please visit:
www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
For information about Trubion clinical trials for Leukemia currently underway, please visit:
www.clinicaltrials.gov