Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, where blood cells are made. It causes the body to produce too many abnormal white blood cells, which can crowd out healthy cells and make it harder for the body to fight infections. This condition mainly affects the blood system and can lead to symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, and an enlarged spleen. The disease progresses slowly at first but can become more aggressive over time. It is caused by a specific genetic change that affects how blood cells grow and divide. Managing this condition often involves monitoring blood counts and targeted treatments to control the abnormal cell growth.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of mature and maturing granulocytes in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. The hallmark of CML is the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome, resulting from a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22, which creates the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene encoding a constitutively active tyrosine kinase. This abnormal kinase activity drives the excessive proliferation of myeloid cells and impairs normal hematopoiesis. Clinically, CML typically presents in a chronic phase with leukocytosis, splenomegaly, and mild symptoms but can progress to an accelerated phase and blast crisis resembling acute leukemia. The disease is significant due to its unique molecular pathogenesis and the availability of targeted therapies that inhibit the BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase.