Childhood Cancer Facts

"Acute Myeloid Leukemia" - AML (Cancer of the bone marrow)

Incidence:

• Approximately 500 children are diagnosed with AML in the United States each year. It is less common than acute lymphoblastic leukemia (which is diagnosed in about 2,000 children each year)
• AML is diagnosed in about 20% of children with leukemia. AML usually occurs in people older than 25 years, but sometimes is found in teenagers and children.

Survival Rate:

• Initial remission is 80-90%, however, there is an approximate 50% relapse (cancer returning after treatment) rate for patients.
• Only 30-50% of patients with AML achieves long-term remissions.

Causes:

• Studies suggest there is a greater incidence of leukemia among people exposed to large amounts of radiation and certain chemicals (e.g. benzene). Cancer-inducing agents in the environment may cause AML. Children with Down's syndrome appear to be at a greater risk.

Description:

• Acute Myeloid leukemia (AML) affects various white blood cells including granulocytes, monocytes and platelets. Leukemic cells accumulate in the bone marrow, replace normal blood cells and spread to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, central nervous system, kidneys and gonads.

Current Treatment Options:

• Chemotherapy is the most common form of therapy for children with AML. Autologous bone marrow transplantation (when a patient receives their own bone marrow, free of cancer cells) may be performed as part of treatment. Allogeneic bone marrow transplatation (when patients receive bone marrow from a donor) is preferred treatment for those patients with AML who relapse or who have disease that is resistant to other treatments.