Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, One Type of Blood Cancer

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, One Type of Blood Cancer

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is one type of blood cancer and bone marrow. Bone marrow is a spongy tissue in the bone where blood cells are made. The disease is also known as acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia. In AML, the word "acute" refers to the fact that the disease affects immature blood cells and develops rapidly. "Myelogenous" refers to white blood cells, called myeloid cells that AML affects these cells. Myeloid cells develop into various types of adult blood cells, such as white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Cause

AML occurs when cell DNA develops in the damaged bone marrow, causing the production of blood cells to become uneven. Immature cells are produced by the bone marrow, which develops into myeloblasts, white blood cells of leukemia. Abnormal cells can not function properly, so abnormal cells develop in the middle of healthy cells. Although the cause of DNA mutations that cause leukemia is unclear, radiation, exposure to certain chemicals and some chemotherapy drugs are thought to be the cause. This is reinforced by the data that, in most cases AML is not inherited.

Symptoms

Many signs and symptoms of the early stages of AML, which can resemble those of flu or other common diseases. These signs can also vary according to the type of blood cells affected. AML signs and symptoms, among others:

1. Bone pain
2. Pale skin
3. Easy bruising
4. Shortness of breath
5. Fever
6. Lethargy and fatigue
7. Frequent infections
8. Weight loss
9. Bleeding from the gums, frequent nosebleeds, and other unusual bleeding.

AML worsens rapidly if left untreated, so the right diagnosis is helpful. In extraordinary cases or alarming signs and symptoms should be immediately consulted with a doctor.

Treatment

The treatment of AML depends on several factors, such as patient age, overall health, preference, and subtype disease. Treatment of this disease has two phases, namely:

1. Phase 1: Induction Therapy

In this phase leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow are killed, but for the purpose of preventing recurrence of the disease, further treatment is necessary because induction of remission usually does not remove all leukemia cells.

2. Phase 2: Consolidation Therapy

In this phase the remaining leukemia cells are destroyed. Also called post-remission, maintenance therapy, or intensification. Consolidation therapy is considered essential to reduce the risk of relapse. Several methods of therapy used in this phase, among others:a. Biological Therapy
This method, also known as immunotherapy, uses substances that strengthen the immune system's response to cancer. One form of biological therapy known as a monoclonal antibody. Although these antibodies are produced in laboratories, they can mimic proteins in the immune system (antibodies) that attack foreign substances in leukemia cells. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is one of the monoclonal antibodies used as biological therapy in AML. When the drug is attached to AML cells, it releases the chemical toxins it carries.

b. Chemotherapy
Although it can also be used as a consolidated therapy, this method is a major form of remission induction therapy, which uses chemicals to kill cancer cells in the body. Because chemotherapy drugs destroy many normal blood cells in the process of killing leukemia cells, so patients must stay in the hospital during this therapy. This treatment may need to be repeated one or more times twice in the case of the first cycle of chemotherapy that does not cause remission.

c. Bone marrow stem cell transplantation
This method can help in rebuilding healthy stem cells by replacing unhealthy bone marrow with cells that are free of leukemia stem cells that will grow healthy bone marrow. This method can be used for consolidation therapy. To destroy the bone marrow and produce benefits in patients with leukemia disease, it will be given a very high dose of chemotherapy or radiation therapy before stem cell transplantation. After that, the infusion of stem cells from a compatible donor (allogenic transplant) will be given. A person's own stem cell can also be used (autologous transplant), ie by taking and storing healthy cells of their mother for future transplantation.

d. Other drug therapy
There are anti-cancer drugs that can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy for induction of remission of certain subtypes of AML called promyelocytic leukemia, such as arsenic trioxide and all types of trans retinoic acid (ATRA).