Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. Normally, bone marrow makes blood stem cells that become mature blood cells over time. A blood stem cell may become a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell. Healthy myeloid stem cells eventually become red blood cells, platelets, or certain types of white blood cells.
In AML, the myeloid stem cells often become a type of immature white blood cell called myeloblasts (or myeloid blasts). The myeloblasts are abnormal and can build up in the blood and bone marrow so there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. These myeloblasts can spread outside the blood to other parts of the body.
It was estimated that approximately 22,010 people in the United States would be diagnosed with AML and 11,090 would die from this disease in 2025, according to the National Cancer Institute. Smoking, previous chemotherapy, and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of adult AML.
Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)Source: National Cancer Institute
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