Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, and without treatment, it can progress quickly. AML happens when the bone marrow makes a large number of abnormal white blood cells called myeloblasts (or myeloid blasts), which do not develop properly and crowd out healthy blood cells.

Understanding AML and Its Impact

In a healthy body, the bone marrow produces blood stem cells that can mature into red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets:

• Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body.
• White blood cells help fight infection.
• Platelets aid in clotting to stop bleeding.

In AML, the abnormal myeloblasts don’t mature into healthy white blood cells, which leaves less room for the other necessary blood cells. This imbalance can cause a variety of health problems, including an increased risk of infection, anemia (due to a lack of red blood cells), and issues with bleeding and clotting (due to fewer platelets).

Subtypes of AML

There are different subtypes of AML, classified by the type and maturity of the cancer cells. One subtype is acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), which occurs when certain genes on chromosomes 15 and 17 switch places, creating an abnormal gene that stops blood cells from maturing. APL requires immediate treatment due to the high risk of severe bleeding and blood clots.

Risk Factors for AML

While the exact cause of AML is not always clear, several risk factors may increase the chance of developing the disease, including:

Having one or more of these risk factors does not guarantee that a person will develop AML, but it may increase their likelihood of getting the disease.

Reference

National Cancer Institute. Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. Updated October 15, 2024. Accessed December 1, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/adult-aml-treatment-pdq