Hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow normally differentiate into precursor cells that differentiate into various blood-forming cell lineages: the lymphoid lineage gives rise to lymphocytes, and the myeloid lineage gives rise to the erythrocytes, platelets, mast cells, etc. (See diagram below)
Leukemias are malignant diseases of the stem and precursor cells caused by the acquisition of genetic mutations, which leads to inhibited maturation or inhibited function of the cells of a particular lineage, and which are characterized by the accumulation of abnormal blood cells in the marrow and peripheral blood. The myelogenous leukemias are characterized by the proliferation and accumulation in the bone marrow of precursor stem cells of the myeloid line, giving rise to functionally immature red cells, platelets and certain white blood cells, to the point where the afflicted individual is no longer able to ward off infections and disease or to control bleeding. These neoplasias typically strike older people, with the median age for AML at 55-60 years, for CML at 50 years with ½ of patients over 60, and for MDS at about 65 years.
For more information on leukemias and related syndromes, please see the following links:
NCI Websites:
www.cancer.gov
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq
http://www.cancer.gov
/cancertopics/types/leukemia
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
/pdq/treatment/adultAML/patient
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq
/treatment/CML http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
/all_page?item_id=8501
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
/pdq/treatment/myelodysplastic
Therapeutic cancer vaccines are intended to treat existing cancers by strengthening the body's natural defenses against cancers that have already developed. These types of vaccines may prevent the further growth of existing cancers, prevent the recurrence of treated cancers, or eliminate cancer cells not killed by prior treatments.
For information on the potential of vaccines for treatment (not prevention) of cancer, please see the following links:
NCI Information on Cancer Vaccines:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
/factsheet/cancervaccine
Leukemia-lymphoma Organization on Leukemia Vaccines:
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/
attachments/National/br_1144329576.pdf
Leukemias are malignant diseases of the stem and precursor cells caused by the acquisition of genetic mutations, which leads to inhibited maturation or inhibited function of the cells of a particular lineage, and which are characterized by the accumulation of abnormal blood cells in the marrow and peripheral blood. The myelogenous leukemias are characterized by the proliferation and accumulation in the bone marrow of precursor stem cells of the myeloid line, giving rise to functionally immature red cells, platelets and certain white blood cells, to the point where the afflicted individual is no longer able to ward off infections and disease or to control bleeding. These neoplasias typically strike older people, with the median age for AML at 55-60 years, for CML at 50 years with ½ of patients over 60, and for MDS at about 65 years.
For more information on leukemias and related syndromes, please see the following links:
NCI Websites:
www.cancer.gov
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq
http://www.cancer.gov
/cancertopics/types/leukemia
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
/pdq/treatment/adultAML/patient
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq
/treatment/CML http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
/all_page?item_id=8501
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
/pdq/treatment/myelodysplastic
Therapeutic cancer vaccines are intended to treat existing cancers by strengthening the body's natural defenses against cancers that have already developed. These types of vaccines may prevent the further growth of existing cancers, prevent the recurrence of treated cancers, or eliminate cancer cells not killed by prior treatments.
For information on the potential of vaccines for treatment (not prevention) of cancer, please see the following links:
NCI Information on Cancer Vaccines:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics
/factsheet/cancervaccine
Leukemia-lymphoma Organization on Leukemia Vaccines:
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/
attachments/National/br_1144329576.pdf
