Leukemia Learning Path

Definition and basic mechanism of leukemia

Leukemia (also spelled leukaemia) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and lead to the production of very large numbers of abnormal, immature blood cells called blasts (leukemia cells). Because these cells are not fully developed, they interfere with the body’s normal production of blood cells, which can result in problems such as bleeding, anemia, and frequent infections. The basic mechanism involves malignant transformation of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. This causes abnormal proliferation of the cancerous cells and crowding out of healthy marrow cells. As the disease progresses, leukemia cells may spill into the bloodstream and spread to other organs. Leukemia is broadly divided into acute and chronic forms: acute leukemia is characterized by a rapid rise in immature cells and requires prompt treatment, while chronic leukemia involves an excessive buildup of more mature (but still abnormal) blood cells that often progresses more slowly and may be monitored before treatment.

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Classification by acute versus chronic

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