Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

Glossary

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a blood cancer.

The three main types of blood cells have specific functions:

  • white blood cells – fight infection
  • red blood cells – carry oxygen around the body
  • platelets – help the blood clot.

ALL develops when the body has too many of the white blood cells known as lymphoid blast cells, also called lymphoblasts. ALL is also sometimes called acute lymphatic leukaemia.

The abnormal blast cells are known as leukaemia cells. Because the leukaemia cells are immature and abnormal, they don’t carry out the usual infection-fighting function of white blood cells. They also crowd out normal white blood cells, which then can’t work properly. This increases the risk of infections.

When the bone marrow fills with leukaemia cells, there is little room for healthy red cells and platelets to be produced. This can cause fatigue, bleeding problems and other health issues.

Learn more about:

What is the difference between acute and chronic leukaemia?

While all types of leukaemia start in the bone marrow and affect white blood cell production, they are grouped according to which type of white blood cell is affected (lymphoid or myeloid), whether there are abnormalities in the bone marrow, and how quickly the disease develops.

Acute leukaemia 

This usually affects immature cells, occurs suddenly, and develops quickly. There are two types of acute leukaemia:

Chronic leukaemia

This usually affects more mature cells, appears gradually, and develops slowly over months to years. There are two types of chronic leukaemia:

What is the difference between ALL and AML?

ALL stands for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (sometimes called acute lymphatic leukaemia), and AML stands for acute myeloid leukaemia. These are the two main types of acute leukaemia. The difference between them is the type of white blood cells affected.

 

 ALL

AML

White blood cells affected

The body has too many of the white blood cells known as lymphoblasts.

 The body has too many of the white blood cells known as myeloblasts.

Subtypes

 ALL can develop from B-cells or T-cells, which are different types of lymphocytes. The main subtypes of ALL are B-cell ALL, T-cell ALL and mixed lineage ALL.

There are different subtypes of AML, including a subtype known as acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) that is treated differently.

More information

Learn more about ALL risk factors, causes,  symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Learn more about AML risk factors, causes,  symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

What causes ALL?

The exact causes of acute leukaemia are not yet understood, but a number of factors are known to increase the chance of developing the disease, including:

  • previous treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  • having certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome
  • exposure to high levels of radiation (e.g. nuclear accident)
  • exposure to some chemicals, such as benzene, petroleum products, paints, certain pesticides and heavy metals, over a long period of time.

In addition, some viruses (e.g. Epstein-Barr virus) increase the risk of ALL.

Who gets ALL?

Each year in Australia, more than 3700 people are diagnosed with a form of leukaemia, and it is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in people under 24. About 1400 of these cases are acute leukaemia, accounting for about 1.1% of cancer cases in Australia, so overall, acute leukaemia is rare.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) – About 370 people are diagnosed each year. Of these, more than 200 are children under 15. ALL mostly occurs in children 1–4 years old.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) – This is the most common type of acute leukaemia in adults, with about 1050 people diagnosed each year. It becomes more common with age and mostly occurs after 65.

The blood

Blood is pumped around your body to provide oxygen and nutrients to your tissues, and to remove waste products. It is made up of blood cells carried in a clear fluid called plasma.

All three types of blood cells have a limited life span and need to be continually replaced. Most are made in the bone marrow, which is the spongy part in the centre of the bones.

The bone marrow contains stem cells. These are unspecialised blood cells that first develop into immature cells known as blast cells. Normally, the blast cells then become mature red or white blood cells or platelets and carry out their set functions.

There are two families of stem cells:

  • lymphoid stem cells – develop into lymphoblast cells and then into lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell
  • myeloid stem cells – develop into myeloblast cells and then into red blood cells, most types of white blood cells, and platelets.

If lymphoblast or myeloblast cells do not mature properly or if there are too many in the blood, it can cause leukaemia.

Blood cell production diagram

Click on the icon below to download a PDF booklet on acute leukaemia

Printed copies are available for free - Call 13 11 20 to order

Instructions for downloading and reading EPUB files

Apple devices

The iBooks application must be installed on your Apple device before you can read the EPUB.
Different ways to download an EPUB file to your Apple device:

  • email EPUB files to yourself and transfer the attachment to iBooks.
  • copy EPUB files into DropBox (or a similar service) and use the DropBox app to send them to iBooks.
  • open EPUB files directly from Mobile Safari and open them in iBooks, where they are saved automatically by downloading the EPUB from the website.

Need more help? Visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4059

Kobo

To download an EPUB file to your Kobo from a Windows computer:

  • download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
  • connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
  • select “Open folder to view files” to view the contents of your Kobo.
  • navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.

To download an EPUB to your Kobo from a Mac:

  • download and save the EPUB directly onto your desktop.
  • connect your Kobo to your computer using the USB cable and tap “Connect” on your eReader.
  • open your “Finder” application.
  • select “Kobo eReader” from the listed devices to view the contents of your Kobo.
  • navigate to where you have stored your EPUB file in “Finder”, probably in documents or downloads, and drag and drop it into the Kobo window. You can now disconnect your Kobo to read the eBook.

Turn on your Kobo and your EPUB will be located in “eBooks”, while a PDF will be located in “Documents”.
Need more information? Visit: http://www.kobo.com/help/koboaura/response/?id=3784&type=3

Sony Reader

To download an EPUB file on your Sony Reader™:

  • ensure you have already installed the Reader™ Library for PC/Mac software
  • select the eBook you want from our website and click the link to download it.
  • connect the Reader™ to your computer.
  • open the Reader™ Library software and click “Library” in the left-hand pane and select the eBook to view it.

Need more help? Visit: https://au.readerstore.sony.com/apps_and_devices/

Amazon Kindle 2nd Generation devices

EPUB files can’t be read on the Amazon Kindle™. However, like most eReaders, Kindle™ 2nd Generation devices are able to display PDFs. We recommend that you download the PDF version of this booklet if you would like to read it on a Kindle™.
To transfer a PDF to your Kindle™ via USB cable from your computer or Mac:

  • download the PDF directly onto your computer.
  • connect the USB cable to your computer’s USB port, and the micro USB end of the cable to your Kindle™. Note: the Kindle™ won’t be available as a reading device while it is connected to your computer until it has been disconnected.
  • open the Kindle™ drive and several folders will appear inside. The “Documents” folder is where you will need to copy or drag the PDF to.
  • safely eject your Kindle™ from your computer and unplug the USB cable. Your content will appear on the Home Screen.

Kindle also provides a Kindle Personal Documents Service that allows users to send documents as an attachment directly to your eReader. For more information on this service, visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200767340&qid=1395967989&sr=1-1
For more information on accessing a PDF on your Kindle™, visit www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle, log in to your account and click on Personal Document Settings.
Need more help? Visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200375630

Android and PC

You can also download and open eBooks on Android devices and PCs with appropriate apps or software installed. Suitable eReader apps for Android include Google Play Books, FBReader and Moon+ Reader. Suitable software for PCs include Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions.

This information was last reviewed in January 2019
View who reviewed this content
View our editorial policy

Support services

Coping with cancer?
Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum

Looking for transport, accommodation or home help?
Practical advice and support during and after treatment

Cancer information

Blood cancers
Learn about the other blood cancers, such as acute lymphoblastic, chronic lymphocytic, chronic myeloid, Hodgkin lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Dealing with the diagnosis
Common reactions to a cancer diagnosis and how to find hope

TOP BACK TO TOP