Leukemia - Causes and Treatment of Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in thechildren with Down's syndrome, which is a genetically
bone marrow. These deranged, immature cellslinked chromosomal abnormality (usually an extra
accumulate in the blood and within organs of thecopy of chromosome 21). Three rare inherited
body. They are not able to carry out the normaldisorders-Fanconi's anemia, Bloom's syndrome, and
functions of blood cells. Normal blood contains 3ataxia telangiectasia-also have an increased risk for
major groups of cells: white blood cells, red bloodleukemia.
cells, and platelets. All 3 types of blood cells developTreatment for Leukemia
from one immature cell type, called blood/marrowChemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the major form of
stem cells, in a process called hematopoiesis.treatment for leukemia. This treatment uses chemical
In leukemia, your bone marrow produces a largeagents to kill leukemia cells. Depending on the type of
number of abnormal white blood cells. They lookleukemia you have, you may receive a single drug or
different from normal blood cells and don't functiona combination of one or more drugs. These drugs
properly. Eventually, they block production of normalmay come in a pill form, or they may be injected
white blood cells, impairing your ability to fight offdirectly into a vein.
infection. Leukemia cells also crowd out other typesInterferon Therapy: Interferons are a class of
of blood cells produced by the bone marrow, includingproteins that are released by virus-infected cells.
red blood cells, which carry oxygen to tissuesThey help normal cells to make antiviral proteins.
throughout your body, and platelets, which help formInterferons also help the body to reduce leukemia cell
blood clots.proliferation (growth and reproduction), while
Causes of Leukemiastrengthening the body's immune response.
Acute leukemia: In acute leukemia, the abnormalKinase inhibitors: For most people with CML, the drug
blood cells are immature blood cells (blasts). Theyimatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is the first line of therapy.
can't carry out their normal work, and they multiplyImatinib mesylate is a type of cancer drug called a
rapidly, so the disease worsens quickly. Acutekinase inhibitor. It was specifically developed to inhibit
leukemia requires aggressive, timely treatment.the BCR-ABL protein, and it has proved effective in
Viruses: The human T-cell leukemia virus I (HTLV-I) istreating the early stages of chronic myelogenous
related to acute T-cell leukemia. This type ofleukemia. Several newer kinase inhibitors are in
leukemia is well documented in parts of the Caribbeandevelopment.
and Asia, but it is uncommon in the United States andSurgery is generally not used to treat leukemia.
Europe. Higher rates of leukemias also have beenOccasionally, a person with leukemia that has spread
reported in workers who are exposed to animalto the spleen has the spleen removed. This is usually
viruses (e.g., butchers, slaughterhouse workers,done only if the spleen is so large that it is causing
veterinary practitioners).problems for nearby organs.
Chronic leukemia: This type of leukemia involves moreRadiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses X-rays or
mature blood cells. These blood cells replicate orother high-energy rays to damage leukemia cells and
accumulate more slowly and can function normally forstop their growth. You may receive radiation in one
a period of time. Some forms of chronic leukemiaspecific area of your body where there is a collection
produce no signs or symptoms and can go unnoticedof leukemia cells, or you may receive radiation
or undiagnosed for years.directed at your whole body.
Genetics-Leukemia risk is increased 15-fold among