Overview Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; also called acute lymphocytic leukemia) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated.
Normally, the bone marrow makes blood stem cells (immature cells) that develop into mature blood cells over time. A blood stem cell may become a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell.
The myeloid stem cell develops into one of three types of mature blood cells:
• Red blood cells that carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body. • Platelets that help prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form. • Granulocytes (white blood cells) that fight infection and disease.
The lymphoid stem cell develops into a lymphoblast cell and then into one of three types of lymphocytes (white blood cells):
• B lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection. • T lymphocytes that help B lymphocytes make the antibodies that help fight infection. • Natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses.
In ALL, too many stem cells develop into lymphoblasts or lymphocytes. These cells may also be called leukemic cells. These leukemic cells are not able to fight infection very well. Also, as the number of leukemic cells increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. The cancer can also spread to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
Symptoms The early signs of ALL may be similar to the flu or other common diseases. Consult a doctor if any of the following problems occur:
• Weakness or feeling tired. • Fever. • Easy bruising or bleeding. • Petechiae (flat, pinpoint spots under the skin caused by bleeding). • Shortness of breath. • Weight loss or loss of appetite. • Pain in the bones or stomach. • Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs. • Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.
These and other symptoms may be caused by adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia or by other conditions.
Treatment The type of treatment selected will depend upon cancer stage as well as your general health. Four types of treatment are commonly used for ALL: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy with stem cell implant, and targeted therapy.
