Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a cancer that grows from cells that produce white blood cells and starts inside the bone marrow. It is also known as chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). It is a myeloproliferative disorder symbolized by increased production of the granulocyte cell line without the loss of their ability to separate. Subsequently, the peripheral blood cell profile shows a larger number of granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) and their undeveloped precursors, including occasional blast cells. Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a clonal bone marrow stem cell disease associated with a characteristic chromosomal translocation called the Philadelphia chromosome, named after the city where it was discovered.
The chronic phase can last for months or years. In this phase the mature cells proliferate but the patient may have few or no symptoms. This is the stage where approximately 85% of patients are diagnosed when they are having blood tests done for other reasons. The accelerated phase is much more dangerous because the leukemia cells grow more quickly and more cytogenetic abnormalities occur. This phase may be associated with fever, swollen spleen, and bone pain. If untreated, CML advances to the blast crisis phase where immature cells rapidly produce. Infection and bleeding may occur due to bone marrow
“Acute” indicates the leukemia’s rapid progression. AML is the most common leukemia affecting adults and increases with age. This form of leukemia accounts for approximately 1.2% of cancer deaths in the United States. Patients have an increased risk for AML if they have had a weakened immune system due to an organ transplant, blood disorders (polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythem, & myelodysplasia), or an exposure to radiation and chemicals. Approximately 500 children are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in the United States each