Leukemia or cancer of the blood cells

Leukemia or cancer of the blood cells

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. The cause of leukemia usually affects white blood cells. The cause of most types of leukemia is unknown. The virus causes leukemia in some animals (eg cats). HTLV-I virus (human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I), which resemble the virus that causes AIDS, is thought to be the cause of a rare type of leukemia in humans, the adult T-cell leukemia.

Exposure to radiation (radiation) and certain chemicals (such as benzene) and the use of anticancer drugs, increase the risk of leukemia. People who have certain genetic disorders (such as Down syndrome and Fanconi syndrome), are also more susceptible to leukemia.

White blood cells derived from stem cells in the bone marrow.

Leukemia occurs when the maturation of stem cells into white blood cells susceptible to interference and result in changes to the malignancy. These changes often involve the rearrangement of parts of chromosomes (the genetic material of the cell complex).

Rearrangement of chromosomes (chromosomal translocation) disrupt the normal control of cell division, so that cells divide uncontrollably and become malignant. Eventually these cells dominate and replace the bone marrow of cells that produce blood cells are normal.

This cancer can infiltrate into other organs, including the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys and brain.

TREATMENT

Unlike other cancers, leukemia is not a solid tumor in which the surgeon can remove it. Leukemia treatment complex. Depending on many factors, including the age and overall health, the type of leukemia you have and whether it has spread to other parts of your body.

The therapy is used to fight leukemia include:

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the main form of treatment for leukemia. This treatment uses a chemical to kill leukemia cells. Depending on the type of leukemia you have, you may receive a single drug or a combination of one or more drugs. These drugs can be in pill form, or they may be injected directly into a vein.

Biological therapy. Also known as immunotherapy, biological therapy uses substances that enhance the immune system against cancer.

Kinase inhibitor. For most people with CML, the drug imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is the first line of therapy. Imatinib mesylate is a type of cancer drug called a kinase inhibitor. This drug specifically developed to inhibit BCR-ABL protein, and has been shown to be effective in treating the early stages of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Food and Drug Administration has approved two other kinase inhibitors, dasatinib (Sprycel) and nilotinib (Tasigna), which can help people who can not take or who have become resistant to imatinib.

Other drug therapy. Arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) are anticancer drugs that physicians can use alone - or in combination with chemotherapy - to treat a specific subtype of AML called promyelocytic leukemia. This drug causes the leukemia cells with specific gene mutations to mature and die.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses X-rays or high-energy rays to damage leukemia cells and stop their growth. You may receive radiation in one particular area of ​​your body where there is a collection of leukemia cells, or you may receive radiation that is directed to the whole body.

Bone marrow transplantation. This process replaces the bone marrow by leukemia-free marrow leukemia. In this treatment, you receive high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which destroys the bone marrow produce your leukemia. Marrow is then replaced by bone marrow from a compatible donor. In some cases, you may also be able to use your own bone marrow transplantation (autologous transplant). This is possible if you keep a healthy bone marrow transplant for the future, in case of recurrence of leukemia.

Stem cell transplantation. A stem cell transplant is similar to a bone marrow transplant but cells collected from stem cells that circulate in the bloodstream (peripheral blood). Cells used for transplantation of healthy cells of your own (autologous transplantation), or they can be collected from a compatible donor (allogeneic transplant). Doctors use this procedure more often than bone marrow transplants due to shorten recovery and possible decreased risk of infection.

Clinical trials. Some people with leukemia choose to enroll in clinical trials to try out experimental treatments or new combinations of known therapies.

Supportive therapy. No matter what type of cancer treatment you choose, you may need medication to control pain and side effects.

Sources: kimiafarmaapotek.com