Learn About Leukemia

What is the definition of Leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones, where blood cells are produced.

The term leukemia means white blood. White blood cells (leukocytes) fight infections and other foreign substances. Leukocytes are made in the bone marrow.

Leukemia leads to an uncontrolled increase in the number of white blood cells.

The cancerous cells prevent healthy red cells, platelets, and mature white cells (leukocytes) from being made. Life-threatening symptoms can then develop as normal blood cells decline.

The cancer cells can spread to the bloodstream and lymph nodes. They can also travel to the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system) and other parts of the body.

Leukemia can affect children and adults.

Leukemias are divided into two major types:

  • Acute (which progresses quickly)
  • Chronic (which progresses more slowly)

The main types of leukemia are:

  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
  • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
  • Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
Who are the top Leukemia Local Doctors?
Hematology Oncology | Hematology | Oncology
Hematology Oncology | Hematology | Oncology

Tri-County Hematology And Oncology Associates Inc

7337 Caritas Cir Nw, Suite 150, 
Massillon, OH 
 4.6 mi
Accepting New Patients

Nagaprasad Nagajothi is a Hematologist Oncology specialist and a Hematologist in Massillon, Ohio. Dr. Nagajothi and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leukemia. His top areas of expertise are Large-Cell Immunoblastic Lymphoma, Anemia, Familial Colorectal Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, and Bone Marrow Aspiration. Dr. Nagajothi is currently accepting new patients.

Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine

Skill Doc 101 LLC

4580 Stephens Cir Nw, Suite 202, 
Canton, OH 
 5.6 mi

Brian Mcclain is an Internal Medicine provider in Canton, Ohio. Dr. Mcclain and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leukemia. His top areas of expertise are Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Idiopathic Edema, and Anemia.

 
 
 
 
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Hematology Oncology | Hematology | Oncology
Hematology Oncology | Hematology | Oncology

Aultman Cancer Care LLC

2600 6th St Sw, 
Canton, OH 
 6.2 mi
Accepting New Patients

Sunitha Vemulapalli is a Hematologist Oncology specialist and a Hematologist in Canton, Ohio. Dr. Vemulapalli and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leukemia. Her top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Thrombocytopenia, Paget Disease of the Breast, Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, and Bone Marrow Aspiration. Dr. Vemulapalli is currently accepting new patients.

What are the different types of Leukemia?
What are the latest Leukemia Clinical Trials?
A Randomized Phase II Study Comparing Inotuzumab Plus Chemotherapy Versus Standard Chemotherapy in Older Adults with Philadelphia-Chromosome-Negative B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Summary: This phase II trial compares the combination of inotuzumab ozogamicin and chemotherapy to the usual chemotherapy in treating patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Inotuzumab ozogamicin is a monoclonal antibody, called inotuzumab, linked to a drug, called CalichDMH. Inotuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (rece...

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A Measurable Residual Disease (MRD) Driven, Phase II Study of Venetoclax Plus Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Younger Patients With Intermediate Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Tier 1 MYELOMATCH Clinical Trial

Summary: This phase II MyeloMATCH treatment trial compares cytarabine with daunorubicin versus cytarabine with daunorubicin and venetoclax versus venetoclax with azacitidine for the treatment of younger patients with intermediate risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Cytarabine is a drug that inhibits some of the enzymes needed for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) replication and repair and can slow or stop the gr...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Appelbaum FR. Acute leukemias in adults. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 95.

Brown JR. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 169.

Hunger SP, Teachey DT, Grupp S, Aplenc R. Childhood leukemia. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 93.

Radich J. Chronic myeloid leukemia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 170.

Walter RB, Appelbaum FA. The acute leukemias. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 168.