Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of AMLSymptomsRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of AML
Symptoms
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Acutemyeloidleukemia (AML) is a rare blood cancer. It begins whenbone marrowcells that make blood cells start producing immature white blood cells calledmyeloblasts.As the myeloblasts multiply, they suppress healthy cells, which can lead to infections, bleeding disorders, andanemia. The leukemia cells eventually may travel outside the blood system and can form solid tumors.AML, also known as acute myelogenous leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, is very aggressive.However, with prompt and proper treatment, it may be curable.Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)Md Babul Hosen / Getty ImagesTypes of AMLAML is classified into a number of subtypes. These may present with different symptoms and can require different treatments.Common subtypes include:Myeloid leukemia: This is the most common subtype of AML.Acute monocytic leukemia (AML-M5): Cancer develops in cells that make monocytes, a white blood cell.Acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMLK): This affects cells responsible for red blood cells or platelets.Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL): This prevents certain white blood cells from developing.Acute Myeloid Leukemia SymptomsThe symptoms ofacute myeloid leukemiaare often confused with other illnesses. Most often, these symptoms are seen in other, more common diseases.Often, the earliest sign of AML is feeling fatigued. Other symptoms of AML can include:Swollen lymph nodesLooking paleFrequent infectionsUnintentionally losing weightHaving fevers without a known causeWaking at night drenched in sweatLosing your appetitePeople with APL have trouble with bleeding and blood-clotting—nosebleeds, cuts that don’t stop bleeding, and blood clots in the legs or lungs.As the leukemia cells take over the bone marrow and blood, they crowd out other blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets), causing complications. These complications can also cause symptoms.These include the following:Low red blood cells (anemia) can make you feel tired, weak, cold, dizzy, and light-headed and cause headaches, pale skin, and shortness of breath.Low white blood cells (neutropenia) can leave you open to infections.Low platelets (thrombocytopenia) can lead to bruises and excessive bleeding in the form of nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and heavy menstrual periods.Low numbers of all three types of blood cells (pancytopenia).The cancer can spread to thelymph nodes,spleen, liver, brain, spinal cord, skin, gums, and testicles.It can then form tumor-like collections of leukemia cells calledchloroma,granulocyticsarcoma, or myeloid sarcoma. The spread of AML can cause symptoms that include the following:Lumps or rashes on the skinSwelling, pain, and bleeding of the gumsCancer reaching the brain and spinal cord that can cause headaches, weakness, seizures, vomiting, clumsiness, facial numbness, and blurry visionEnlarged lymph nodes in the neck, groin, underarm areas, or above the collarbone, which may be felt as lumps under the skinThese symptoms worsen quickly if you’re not treated.Risk Factors for AMLIt’s hard to knowwhat causes AML. However, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of developing this cancer. These include:Being over 65 years of ageSmokingBeing maleLong-term exposure to benzene and, possibly, formaldehydePrior chemotherapy treatmentExposure to radiationFamily history of AMLHaving a genetic disorder: Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome,ataxia-telangiectasia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome,Li-Fraumenisyndrome,neurofibromatosistype 1, Kostmann syndromeRisk Factors for AMLSeveral factors increase your risk of developing AML. It’s more common in older people, males, and those with a family history of AML.(Note that the terms for sex or gender from the cited source are used in this article.)Smoking and chemical exposures, including benzene, formaldehyde, chemotherapy drugs, or radiation, also increase risk. People with blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or some genetic syndromes are at an increased risk of developing AML.Diagnosing Acute Myeloid LeukemiaIf a healthcare provider suspects AML, they’ll do an initial exam and take your health history as the first step toward anAML diagnosis. They will closely examine your mouth, eyes, skin, liver, lymph nodes, spleen, and nervous system. They’ll also ask about or look for bruising or bleeding and ask about infections you have had recently.Unlike other cancers, there is no standard staging system for acute myeloid leukemia,They will request blood testing from the lab, which may include the following:Complete blood count (CBC)of the amounts of different cells in the bloodPeripheral blood smearto look for myeloblasts in the blood under the microscopeBlood chemistry teststo check your overall health and the function of many vital organsCoagulation teststo check how the blood clotsThe healthcare provider will also order imaging tests to see what’s happening inside your body. These may include:X-rays for lung infectionsComputed tomography (CT) scan before a biopsy (removing a sample tissue for analysis in a lab) or to learn where cancer may be growingMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the brain and spinal cordUltrasound to examine the lymph nodesThey’ll likely perform abone marrow aspiration or biopsy, sampling the spongy bone marrow tissue inside the bones. They’ll look at what percentage of bone marrow cells are myeloblasts. For a diagnosis of AML, the blood or bone marrow needs to be at least 20% myeloblasts. In normal bone marrow, they are 5% or less.You may need to have a sample of your spinal fluid collected vialumbar punctureif your healthcare team suspects the cancer has spread to the nervous system.To understand your type of the AML better, they’ll do genetic and chromosomal testing on your bone marrow or blood samples. They may also analyze the samples using dyes and antibodies to classify the cancer.Treatment Options for Acute Myeloid LeukemiaAcute myeloid leukemia is treatedwith a combination of medicines and procedures. These includechemotherapy,radiation therapy,stem cell transplants, andtargeted therapies.Treatment is typically done in two phases.Remission induction therapy:The first phase of treatment aims to destroy as many leukemia cells as possible. Typically this involves high-dose chemotherapy and targeted treatments, depending on the person’s general health and age.Postremission therapy: After the first phase, treatments are less intense but aim to kill any remaining cells. The goal is to prevent leukemia cells from growing and causing arelapse. At this time, a stem cell transplant may be done to replace a person’s blood-making cells with those from another healthy person.Targeted treatments used alongside chemotherapy act to destroy specific types of cancer cells. Therapy drugs may include the following:Mylotarg(gemtuzumab ozogamicin) contains a monoclonal antibody that binds to CD33, a protein in some leukemia cells.Rydapt(midostaurin) is a protein kinase inhibitor that blocks the abnormal protein that tells cancer cells to multiply.Xospata(gilteritinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in cases where AML has worsened or come back; it blocks substances that signal stimulate the cancer cells to multiply.Vanflyta(quizartinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets proteins with a specific mutation in order to stop cancer cells from reproducing.Less-intensive targeted therapies may be used in people who cannot receive other treatments. These include:Daurismo(glasdegib) for adults over 75 or with health issues that are newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemiaTibsovo(ivosidenib) for AML with a mutation in the IDH1 geneIdhifa (enasidenib) for AML with a mutation in the IDH2 geneOther drugs, like arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid, can treat AML subtype acute promyelocytic leukemia.Other supports that people with AML may need includeblood transfusionsif red blood cells or platelets get too low.Antiviralsandantifungalsmay also be used to treat and prevent infections.Prognosis for Acute Myeloid LeukemiaTheprognosis for people with acute myeloid leukemiais generally poor, especially for certain types of the disease. AML is the 14th deadliest cancer. One subtype, acute monocytic leukemia, is even more deadly and is the 13th most fatal cancer.These are some important statistics related to AML:The percentage of people diagnosed with AML who were still alive five years later was 31.9% between 2015 and 2010.Older people are harder hit with this disease than younger people. For people diagnosed before the age of 20, almost 70% are still alive five years later. For people diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 64, it drops to about 44%; between the ages of 65 and 74, it’s about 19%; for 75 and older, it’s under 5%.Treatment is improving survival rates. The five-year relative survival rate has gone from 19.4% in 2000 to 34.6% in 2021.The APL subtype, which represents approximately 5% to 20% of all cases of adult AML, has a 90% cure rate.SummaryAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare and aggressive blood cancer. If left untreated, AML can quickly spread. It primarily affects older adults over the age of 65.The symptoms of AML are often mistaken for other illnesses. They include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, pale appearance, frequent infections, unintentional weight loss, fevers without a known cause, night sweats, and loss of appetite.Treatment for AML typically involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, and targeted therapies. While the prognosis is generally poor, AML can be cured in some circumstances, and treatments are becoming more effective.
Acutemyeloidleukemia (AML) is a rare blood cancer. It begins whenbone marrowcells that make blood cells start producing immature white blood cells calledmyeloblasts.
As the myeloblasts multiply, they suppress healthy cells, which can lead to infections, bleeding disorders, andanemia. The leukemia cells eventually may travel outside the blood system and can form solid tumors.
AML, also known as acute myelogenous leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, is very aggressive.However, with prompt and proper treatment, it may be curable.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Md Babul Hosen / Getty Images
AML is classified into a number of subtypes. These may present with different symptoms and can require different treatments.Common subtypes include:
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Symptoms
The symptoms ofacute myeloid leukemiaare often confused with other illnesses. Most often, these symptoms are seen in other, more common diseases.
Often, the earliest sign of AML is feeling fatigued. Other symptoms of AML can include:
People with APL have trouble with bleeding and blood-clotting—nosebleeds, cuts that don’t stop bleeding, and blood clots in the legs or lungs.
As the leukemia cells take over the bone marrow and blood, they crowd out other blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets), causing complications. These complications can also cause symptoms.
These include the following:
The cancer can spread to thelymph nodes,spleen, liver, brain, spinal cord, skin, gums, and testicles.
It can then form tumor-like collections of leukemia cells calledchloroma,granulocyticsarcoma, or myeloid sarcoma. The spread of AML can cause symptoms that include the following:
These symptoms worsen quickly if you’re not treated.
Risk Factors for AML
It’s hard to knowwhat causes AML. However, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of developing this cancer. These include:
Risk Factors for AMLSeveral factors increase your risk of developing AML. It’s more common in older people, males, and those with a family history of AML.(Note that the terms for sex or gender from the cited source are used in this article.)Smoking and chemical exposures, including benzene, formaldehyde, chemotherapy drugs, or radiation, also increase risk. People with blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or some genetic syndromes are at an increased risk of developing AML.
Several factors increase your risk of developing AML. It’s more common in older people, males, and those with a family history of AML.(Note that the terms for sex or gender from the cited source are used in this article.)Smoking and chemical exposures, including benzene, formaldehyde, chemotherapy drugs, or radiation, also increase risk. People with blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or some genetic syndromes are at an increased risk of developing AML.
Several factors increase your risk of developing AML. It’s more common in older people, males, and those with a family history of AML.(Note that the terms for sex or gender from the cited source are used in this article.)
Smoking and chemical exposures, including benzene, formaldehyde, chemotherapy drugs, or radiation, also increase risk. People with blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or some genetic syndromes are at an increased risk of developing AML.
Diagnosing Acute Myeloid Leukemia
If a healthcare provider suspects AML, they’ll do an initial exam and take your health history as the first step toward anAML diagnosis. They will closely examine your mouth, eyes, skin, liver, lymph nodes, spleen, and nervous system. They’ll also ask about or look for bruising or bleeding and ask about infections you have had recently.
Unlike other cancers, there is no standard staging system for acute myeloid leukemia,
They will request blood testing from the lab, which may include the following:
The healthcare provider will also order imaging tests to see what’s happening inside your body. These may include:
They’ll likely perform abone marrow aspiration or biopsy, sampling the spongy bone marrow tissue inside the bones. They’ll look at what percentage of bone marrow cells are myeloblasts. For a diagnosis of AML, the blood or bone marrow needs to be at least 20% myeloblasts. In normal bone marrow, they are 5% or less.
You may need to have a sample of your spinal fluid collected vialumbar punctureif your healthcare team suspects the cancer has spread to the nervous system.
To understand your type of the AML better, they’ll do genetic and chromosomal testing on your bone marrow or blood samples. They may also analyze the samples using dyes and antibodies to classify the cancer.
Treatment Options for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia is treatedwith a combination of medicines and procedures. These includechemotherapy,radiation therapy,stem cell transplants, andtargeted therapies.
Treatment is typically done in two phases.
Targeted treatments used alongside chemotherapy act to destroy specific types of cancer cells. Therapy drugs may include the following:
Less-intensive targeted therapies may be used in people who cannot receive other treatments. These include:
Other drugs, like arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid, can treat AML subtype acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Other supports that people with AML may need includeblood transfusionsif red blood cells or platelets get too low.Antiviralsandantifungalsmay also be used to treat and prevent infections.
Prognosis for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Theprognosis for people with acute myeloid leukemiais generally poor, especially for certain types of the disease. AML is the 14th deadliest cancer. One subtype, acute monocytic leukemia, is even more deadly and is the 13th most fatal cancer.
These are some important statistics related to AML:
Summary
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare and aggressive blood cancer. If left untreated, AML can quickly spread. It primarily affects older adults over the age of 65.
The symptoms of AML are often mistaken for other illnesses. They include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, pale appearance, frequent infections, unintentional weight loss, fevers without a known cause, night sweats, and loss of appetite.
Treatment for AML typically involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants, and targeted therapies. While the prognosis is generally poor, AML can be cured in some circumstances, and treatments are becoming more effective.
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20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Definition of acute myeloid leukemia.American Cancer Society.Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Subtypes and Prognostic Factors.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Leukemia Lymphoma Society.Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).American Cancer Society.What is acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?American Cancer Society.Risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).American Cancer Society.Tests for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).National Cancer Institute.Acute myeloid leukemia treatment.National Cancer Institute.Midostaurin.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Midostaurin.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Gilteritinib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Quizartinib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Glasdegib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Ivosidenib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Enasidenib.National Cancer Institute.SEER explorer all sites survival.National Cancer Institute.Acute myeloid leukemia—cancer stat facts.National Cancer Institute: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): SEER 5-year relative survival rates, 2014-2020.National Cancer Institute: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) recent trends in SEER relative survival rates, 2000-2021.Ryan MM.Acute promyelocytic leukemia: a summary.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018;9(2):178-187.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Definition of acute myeloid leukemia.American Cancer Society.Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Subtypes and Prognostic Factors.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Leukemia Lymphoma Society.Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).American Cancer Society.What is acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?American Cancer Society.Risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).American Cancer Society.Tests for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).National Cancer Institute.Acute myeloid leukemia treatment.National Cancer Institute.Midostaurin.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Midostaurin.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Gilteritinib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Quizartinib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Glasdegib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Ivosidenib.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Enasidenib.National Cancer Institute.SEER explorer all sites survival.National Cancer Institute.Acute myeloid leukemia—cancer stat facts.National Cancer Institute: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): SEER 5-year relative survival rates, 2014-2020.National Cancer Institute: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) recent trends in SEER relative survival rates, 2000-2021.Ryan MM.Acute promyelocytic leukemia: a summary.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018;9(2):178-187.
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Ryan MM.Acute promyelocytic leukemia: a summary.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018;9(2):178-187.
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