What is chronic myelogenous leukemia?

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), also called chronic myeloid leukemia, is a cancer of the blood in which too many granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, build up in the bone marrow. CML is also called chronic myeloid leukemia.  

Normally, bone marrow cells mature into several different types of blood cells. CML results from a blockade in the normal maturation of younger white blood cells called blasts. Because of this blockade, the white blood cells do not mature normally and accumulate in large numbers in the bone marrow and blood.

While far more common in adults, CML is rare in children and accounts for about 1 percent of all childhood leukemias. CML can develop over a period of months or years.

Treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia

Treatment for CML may include:

• Oral targeted chemotherapy, such as imatinib, dasatinib, or nilotinib
• IV chemotherapy
• Stem cell transplantation