Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): An Aggressive Blood Cancer
What is AML?
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow and results in an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells called myeloid cells or myeloblasts. Unlike other types of cancer where solid tumors form, AML affects the bone marrow and blood.
Symptoms of AML
The symptoms of AML are often nonspecific at first and similar to the flu. Some common symptoms of AML include:
– Fatigue and shortness of breath due to anemia
– Frequent infections from a low white blood cell count
– Easy bruising or bleeding from a low platelet count
– Fever
– Bone pain
– Weight loss and loss of appetite
As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more severe as the buildup of abnormal white blood cells crowds out healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the bone marrow. This can cause complications like infections, anemia, and bleeding issues.
Causes and Risk Factors
While the exact cause of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is unknown, several risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing the disease:
– Age – The risk increases with age, with AML being most common in adults over 65.
– Genetic syndromes – Conditions like Down syndrome are linked to higher risks of AML.
– Previous chemotherapy treatment – Some chemo drugs used for other cancers are associated with developing AML later on.
– Smoking – Long-term smoking increases risks of various cancers including AML.
– Exposure to radiation – Significant past radiation exposure through treatments or accidents is another risk.
– Certain inherited blood disorders – Conditions affecting the bone marrow can sometimes progress to AML.
Diagnosis
When AML is suspected due to symptoms and test results, a definitive diagnosis requires examining bone marrow aspiration and biopsy samples under a microscope. Doctors look for the presence of myeloblasts, also known as leukemia blasts, in the blood and bone marrow. Additional tests help determine the specific subtype or genetic changes involved in the cancer.
Subtypes and Prognosis
There are several subtypes of Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) based on the type of myeloid cell affected and specific chromosome or gene mutations involved. Some subtypes have worse long-term prognoses than others. Factors that influence prognosis include:
– Age – Older patients typically have poorer outcomes.
– Subtype – Certain genetic abnormalities confer better or worse survival rates.
– Early response to treatment – Patients who achieve remission after initial therapy have better prognoses.
– Presence of comorbidities – Other existing medical conditions can impact treatment options and survival.
Treatment Options
Treatment for AML is aimed at induction chemotherapy to achieve remission by reducing the number of leukemia blasts. Depending on risk factors and response, additional consolidation chemotherapy or stem cell transplant may be used. The main treatment approaches are:
– Chemotherapy – Powerful drug combinations are used to kill leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow.
– Stem cell transplant – For younger patients, a transplant of healthy stem cells from a matched donor can provide a potentially curative option once remission is reached.
– Clinical trials – Promising new drug therapies and immunotherapies are being studied in clinical trials for better outcomes.
– Supportive care – Managing side effects with blood transfusions, antibiotics, and growth factors is an essential part of treatment.
Outlook and Prognosis
While Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has an aggressive nature, treatment advances have led to significantly improved survival rates over recent decades, especially for younger patients. The overall 5-year survival rate is around 28%, but nearly 60% for those under 60 years old who receive chemotherapy plus stem cell transplants in suitable cases. Continued research aims to develop better targeted and less toxic therapies to further increase long-term survival for those with this challenging blood cancer.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
