Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Health Article

KEY TERMS

Antiangiogenic drugs —Drugs that block the formation of new blood vessels.

Blasts

—Immature blood cells.

CBC

—Complete blood count, a blood test that measures red cells, white cells and platelets.

Graft versus host disease

—After bone marrow transplant, the newly transplanted white blood cells can attack the patient's own tissues.

Intrathecal chemotherapy

—Chemotherapeutic drugs instilled directly into the spinal fluid, either by spinal tap or through a special reservoir.

Karyotype

—The number and type of chromosomes found within cells.

Lymphoblasts

—The cancerous cells of ALL, immature forms of lymphocytes, white blood cells that fight infection.

Ommaya reservoir

—A special device surgically placed under the scalp with a direct connection to spinal fluid. Medications to treat central nervous system disease are injected into the reservoir.

Petechiae

—Pinpoint red spots seen on the skin with low platelet counts.

Philadelphia chromosome

—An abnormal chromosome found in 20% of adults and 5% of children with ALL, the presence of which indicates a somewhat worse prognosis.

Sanctuary sites

—Areas within the body which are relatively impermeable to medications such as chemotherapy but which can harbor cancerous cells. Some of these sites are the central nervous system, the testicles, and the eyes.

Thymus

—A gland within the chest involved in the maturation of immune cells that can be invaded by T lymphocytes in T-cell ALL.