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Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

Definition

Acute Lymphocytic 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. 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.

Learn more on the National Cancer Institute's Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia web page.

Getting Diagnosed / Treatment

CLL is treated at the U-M Cancer Center in the Adult Hematology Clinic. Read more about:

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