This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science.
This page was updated on September 12, 2022.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, is a fast-growing form of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia.
AML is also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. It occurs when the bone marrow beings to make blasts, cells that have not yet completely matured. These blasts normally develop into white blood cells. However, in AML, these cells do not develop and are unable to ward off infections.
In AML, the bone marrow may also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The number of these abnormal cells increases rapidly, and the abnormal (leukemia) cells begin to crowd out the normal white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets that the body needs.
One of the main things that differentiates AML from the other main forms of leukemia is that it has eight different subtypes, which are based on the cell from which the leukemia developed. The types of acute myelogenous leukemia include:
Because AML makes abnormal cells that crowd out normal healthy cells, many of its symptoms are a result of the low number of healthy blood cells in the body. Some AML symptoms include:
Some AML symptoms are general in nature and don’t, on their own, mean someone has AML, since they may be caused by other health conditions. The patient should always speak to his or her doctor after noticing unexpected health or bodily changes.
Several known risk factors may increase the lifetime risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia. Risk factors don’t necessarily mean someone will develop AML, but for those who do have one or more risk factors, it’s important to discuss them with their doctor.
Acute myeloid risk factors include:
Age and gender: Although AML may occur at any point in someone’s life, the risk increases with age. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), around 50 percent of AML patients are 65 years or older when first diagnosed. It’s also more common in males.
Tobacco use: Smoking is also a risk factor that may directly increase the risk of many cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia. Smoking is considered the only lifestyle risk factor for the disease.
Exposure to certain chemicals: Other major risk factors include previous exposure to radiation therapy or chemotherapy from previous cancer treatments. Exposure to cigarette smoke petroleum and benzene, which is found in industrial businesses, also raises the risk of AML.
Family history: In some instances, having a parent or sibling with AML may increase risk. Though the instance is very rare, those with an identical twin who had AML before the age of 1 has a significantly increased risk.
Other risk factors include:
Patients concerned about their risk factors should talk to their care team to find out more.
Treatment for AML may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant and/or targeted therapy. Your integrated team of leukemia experts will answer your questions and recommend treatment options based on your unique diagnosis and needs.
A common chemotherapy treatment for AML begins with induction chemotherapy, in which a combination of drugs is used to destroy as many leukemia cells as possible and bring blood counts to normal. This is followed by consolidation chemotherapy, to destroy any remaining leukemia cells that cannot be seen in the blood or bone marrow.
According to ASCO, AML isn’t common, accounting for approximately 1 percent of all cancers. However, for those who are diagnosed with AML, survival rates vary from patient to patient, based primarily on age and the type of AML.
ASCO estimates that, for patients 20 years of age and younger, the five-year survival rate for AML is 69 percent. The five-year survival rate for patients older than 20 is 27 percent. Survival rates for all cancers are improving over time, thanks to advances in treatment options.
Next topic: What is chronic lymphocytic leukemia?