Leukemia is not a single disease but a group of related diseases, and acute leukemia is a particular type that appears suddenly and that can have devastating results, most often leading to death, though continuing research has reduced the mortality rate as new treatments are tested all the time. The outlook is thus good given the number of avenues of research currently being pursued. An analysis of the disease and its current treatments point to areas for further research and development.
Leukemia is a rare cancer of the bone marrow that destroys its normal blood producing capacity, and it can be designated "acute" with the sudden onset of symptoms or can develop more slowly over several years as "chronic" leukemia. Leukemia remains a serious disease requiring potent drug therapy, but some forms are now curable. Two decades ago, a child diagnosed with acute leukemia could expect to survive just a few months, while today, not only can many children be cured of their disease, but even the once dismal outlook for adults is improving. The change has come about through treatment administered in specialized centers, use of new drug combinations, better support measures (such as blood transfusions), and bone marrow transplants.
The cells making up blood are produced in the bone marrow and the lymph system. The bone marrow is the spongy tissue found in the large bones of the body, and the lymph system includes the spleen (an organ in the upper abdomen), the thymus (a small organ beneath the breastbone), and the tonsils (an organ in the throat). The lymph vessels (tiny tubes that branch like blood vessels into all parts of the body) and lymph nodes (pea shaped organs that are found along the network of lymph vessels) are also part of the lymph system. The lymph is a milky fluid that contains cells. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the neck, underarm, pelvis, abdomen, and chest. The cells in the blood are the red blood cell...