Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a type of cancer, in the leukemia category of cancer disease processes. This condition is considered a sub-classification or sub-type of acute myelogenous leukemia, which, in the medical community, is also known as AML. In its most basic terms, leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.
Definition
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is medically defined an an abnormal or irregular accumulation of granulocytes (white blood cells that have granules in their cytoplasm) that have not been properly formed, a condition caused by chromosomes that end up in the wrong place within certain receptor genes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of APL (acute promyelocytic leukemia) are determined by age, overall health condition, and severity of the condition. Some of the most common include a general sense of fatigue, possible weight loss, fever and shortness of breath. Some individuals bruise easily and even develop what is known as petechiae, or tiny points of blood evident beneath the surface of the skin. Some people also experience anemia.
Diagnostics
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is diagnosed through examination of the bone marrow, as well as blood tests that determine a decrease in white blood cells. Doctors can identify APL because it differs in actue myeloid leukemia (AML) through testing of RARA gene fusion. This can be performed during PCR testing methods.
Treatment
While no cure for any form of leukemia has yet been found, some individuals benefit from ATRA, which is a product of trans-retinoic acid, which in turn comes from vitamin A. This treatment causes poorly formed or immature promyelocytes to become fully formed or mature granulocytes, which are essential for proper growth, development and function of cells.
Future Treatments
According to the National Cancer Institute, clinical trials are underway for treatments to be used for childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is also known as M3. Drugs and interventions are determined by the type, age and location and severity of the leukemia.
Tags: promyelocytic leukemia, Acute promyelocytic, acute promyelocytic, also known, blood cells, bone marrow, leukemia which