What are the Causes of Leukemia?
Many people wonder what causes leukemia. While extensive studies are underway, researchers have not yet identified the precise causes of the condition.
How does leukemia start?
Some scientists believe that leukemia results from an as-of-yet undetermined combination of genetic and environmental factors that can lead to mutations in the cells that make up the bone marrow. These mutations, known as leukemic changes, cause the cells to grow and divide very rapidly. The resulting unhealthy cells can outnumber the healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets within the body, rendering the blood less effective at doing its job. Because of this, a leukemia patient might bleed, bruise or become fatigued very easily, and also might be highly susceptible to infection.
Types of leukemia
Leukemia is broadly categorized as acute or chronic. Acute leukemias are more aggressive and involve immature blood cells, whereas chronic leukemias tend to develop more slowly and involve mature blood cells. Leukemia is further classified by the type of cells that are affected, with the four main types being:
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
Risk factors that can cause leukemia
With regard to the specific genetic and environmental factors that are thought to be linked to leukemia, and what causes bone marrow cells to mutate, researchers are evaluating certain combinations of:
- A genetic predisposition
- Down syndrome
- Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Exposure to petrochemicals, such as benzene
- Extensive exposure to artificial ionizing radiation
- Alkylating chemotherapy agents administered to treat other types of cancer
- Tobacco use
- Use of certain hair dyes
Researchers have further identified which risk factors may cause different types of leukemia. For example:
- Risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia include smoking, exposure to high doses of radiation, certain blood disorders and certain genetic disorders
- Risk factors for acute lymphocytic leukemia include having certain viral infections (such as Epstein-Barr) or genetic disorders (such as Down syndrome) as well as prior exposure to high doses of radiation or benzene
- Risk factors for chronic lymphocytic leukemia include a family history of this cancer or exposure to Agent Orange (a tactical herbicide)
No risk factors have yet been identified for chronic myeloid leukemia, although an exposure to certain chemicals, a family history of leukemia, race and age may play a part.
Who is most at risk for developing leukemia?
While scientists have been working hard to better understand the risk factors of leukemia—as noted above—there is no singular predictor that someone will get this cancer. Some people with multiple risk factors may never develop leukemia while those with no known risk factors may be diagnosed with it in their lifetime. Risk factors are simply a measuring stick that help scientists understand what genetic and environmental factors may increase a person’s likelihood of developing a certain health condition, like cancer.
What causes childhood leukemia?
Leukemia is the most common type of cancer diagnosed among children and adolescents younger than 20 years old, accounting for 25% of all cancer cases for this demographic. But it’s still unknown what exactly causes children to develop leukemia at such a high rate, as most children diagnosed with this cancer have no known risk factors. Children with Down syndrome or Li-Fraumeni syndrome are more at risk for developing leukemia as well as those who have a sibling with leukemia (although the overall risk is very low). Certain inherited immune system conditions—Ataxia-telagiectasia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Bloom syndrome and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome—can also increase a child’s risk of leukemia.
Can leukemia be cured?
While there is no cure for leukemia at this point in time, and the cancer can still recur, patients can reach a state of remission (in which there are no longer any signs or symptoms of cancer). These days, there are a range of advanced treatment options available for leukemia patients to achieve remission without recurrence, including:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Bone marrow transplants
- Monoclonal antibody therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Clinical trials
Why choose Moffitt for leukemia treatment?
As a high-volume cancer center, Moffitt Cancer Center diagnoses and treats a large number of leukemia patients. Some key factors that distinguish Moffitt from other providers include our multispecialty approach, highly specialized expertise and robust clinical trials. There is a growing need in the community for aggressive therapies and supportive patient care, and Moffitt is meeting that need.
In addition, as a leader in cancer research, Moffitt has received national recognition for its efforts to discover exactly what causes leukemia. Most notably, we have been designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center—the only one based in Florida. Through our highly focused work, we continue to transform the diagnosis and treatment of all types of leukemia. As a result, our patient outcomes and survival rates outrank national averages and our patients enjoy an enhanced quality of life.
If you would like to meet with the knowledgeable cancer experts at Moffitt to discuss their thoughts on what causes leukemia, call 1-888-663-3488 or complete a new patient registration form online. Your cancer diagnosis is our top priority, which is why we provide every new patient with rapid access to a cancer expert.
Medically reviewed by Chetasi Talati, MD, Malignant Hematology.