Leukemia

Leukemia

The prevention and treatment of leukemia -- cancer of the blood or bone marrow. The disease is characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells.

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Leukemia

interferons

Health care; Leukemia

A family of naturally-occurring proteins derived from human cells and involved principally in fighting viral infections. They are now available as products of genetic engineering for use in the ...

A family of viruses composed of RNA. Once in a host T-cell they can use reverse transcriptase to perform a “backwards” conversion of RNA to DNA. This family of viruses can cause leukemia in animals. ...

human T-lymphocytotropic virus (HTLV)

Health care; Leukemia

A family of viruses that invade T-lymphocytes. HTLV-1 produces a disease called adult T-cell leukemia or lymphoma primarily in Southern Japan and the Caribbean . HTLV-3 has been renamed the human ...

antigen

Health care; Leukemia

A foreign substance, usually a protein, that stimulates an immune response when it is ingested, inhaled or comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes. Examples of antigens are bacteria, ...

radioactive isotope

Health care; Leukemia

A form of a molecule that emits radiation. Certain types of radiation can damage cancer cells. Physicians use radioactive isotopes to treat cancer in several ways, including attaching the isotope to ...

reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation

Health care; Leukemia

A form of allogeneic transplantation, now in clinical trials. In a reduced intensity transplant, patients receive lower doses of chemotherapy drugs and/or radiation in preparation for the transplant. ...

portacath

Health care; Leukemia

A form of central venous line in which the whole of the line is surgically implanted within the body. A membrane just below the skin gives access by a simple skin puncture to a line running straight ...