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You are here: Cancer information / Cancer type / Leukemia - Acute lymphocytic (ALL) / Overview

Glossary

What is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)?

Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood stem cells (immature blood cells) in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy material that fills the centre of most bones. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Blood stem cells develop into either lymphoid stem cells or myeloid stem cells.

 

Lymphoid stem cells develop into lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell. They are usually found in blood and different parts of the lymphatic system, such as the lymph nodes and the spleen. Lymphocytes make antibodies to help fight infection.

 

Lymphocytic leukemia develops when the blood stem cells in the bone marrow make too many abnormal lymphoblasts (immature lymphocytes). These abnormal cells are called leukemia cells, and they do not develop into healthy lymphocytes. The leukemia cells crowd out normal blood cells. This makes it hard for the white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets to do their jobs.

 

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a type of leukemia that starts suddenly, developing in days or weeks.

 

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