Childhood Leukemias

Abstract

The childhood leukemias are a study in contrasts. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is diagnosed in approximately 2000 children in the United States each year, whereas acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is diagnosed in only about 500 children, and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in fewer than 100. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), one of the most common leukemias in adults, seldom occurs in children. Current chemotherapeutic regimens cure as many as 70 percent of children with ALL (Figure 1)¹⁴ but only 30 to 40 percent of those with AML,⁵¹⁰ and they are ineffective against CML without allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.¹¹ Our . . .