n WHAT IS LEUKEMIA? Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The blood cells that are made in the bone marrow include red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Each type of blood cell has its own job in the body. RBCs provide oxygen and energy to the body. WBCs are the infection-fighting cells. Platelets help blood clot (or thicken); the blood’s ability to clot is important during certain situations, such as when you have a cut. In this way, platelets control bleeding and the appearance of bruises. Leukemia occurs as a result of abnormal growth of immature blood cells, called blast cells. These immature cells grow out of control, crowd out the normal cells (WBCs, RBCs, and platelets) in the bone marrow, and eventually spill out into the bloodstream. As a result, leukemia may be found in other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), testicles, skin, and other organs. n WHAT IS BONE MARROW? Bone marrow is the spongy tissue located in the center of bones, which is where blood cells are developed. This process of blood cell development is called hematopoiesis. The process of hematopoiesis starts with a stem cell and results in the formation of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. When these cells are fully developed, they enter the blood system and circulate throughout the body.
n BONE MARROW CELLS
Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
Carry oxygen throughout the body
White Blood Cells (WBCs) Help the body fight infection Platelets
Prevent bleeding and promote clotting
n WHAT IS ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA?
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a rapidly progressing type of leukemia that develops from the myeloid cell line. AML results from the overproduction of very young, immature cells called leukemia blasts. These blasts (immature blood cells) cannot carry out the normal function of a healthy blood cell. Instead, they crowd within the bone marrow and decrease the production of normal bone marrow cells.
n HOW ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AML CLASSIFIED? AML used to be classified based on how the leukemia bone marrow cells looked under a microscope. In 2001, the World Health Organization (also known as WHO) introduced a new system for grouping the different types of AML based on gene changes in the leukemia cells. As specific changes have been identified through research, they have been grouped to help indicate how well the patient will respond to treatment. A 2008 update included more gene changes linked to AML. In 2016, the grouping system was updated to include leukemia biomarkers,
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