Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Pediatric acute myleoid leukemia is a disease characterized by the abnormal proliferation and differentiation of myeloid precursor cells in the bone marrow. Leukemia accounts for 25-30% of all childhood cancers, and acute myeloid leukemia accounts for 20-25% of childhood leukemia. 

Traditionally, acute myeloid leukemia was categorized as M1 to M7 according to the morphology. However, recent classification categorizes AML by the genetic aberration, as acute promyelocytic leukemia with PML::RARA fusion, acute myeloid leukemia with RUNX1::RUNX1T1 fusion, acute myeloid leukemia with NUP98 rearrangement, etc.

Children with acute myeloid leukemia may present with a wide range of signs and symptoms, such as fever, dizziness, anorexia, easy bruisability, bleeding, weight loss, etc.

Development of acute myeloid leukemia is thought to follow a multiple mutation of genes. An initial oncogenic mutations creates a preleukemic cell that eventually develops into a leukemia cell via a second promotional mutation. There are some known inherited conditions (Down syndrome, Fanconia anemia, Li-fraumeni syndrome, et al.) and environmental factors (ionizing radiation, alkylating chemotherapeutic agents, etc.) to increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia.

There is no known method to prevent acute myeloid leukemia in children. However, the patient needs to get regular screening for leukemia if they have cancer predisposition syndromes such as Down syndrome, Fanconia anemia, Li-fraumeni syndrome, etc.