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How can mutations in bone marrow stem cells lead to leukemia?
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white blood cell
Blood is made up of multiple components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and water-rich plasma.
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues that originates from a genetic mutation in an early progenitor or stem cell within the bone marrow.1
This process typically unfolds as follows:
- Genetic Mutation: The initial mutation occurs in a stem cell, which is responsible for producing blood cells. This change affects genes that regulate vital aspects of cell growth and function, such as [oncogenes].1
- Clonal Expansion: Once the mutation occurs, the affected stem cell passes the genetic change on to all of its progeny. This creates a clone of leukemic cells that continue to divide and proliferate.1
- Malignant Transformation: The development of leukemia is often a multi-step process that culminates in cells possessing malignant attributes. These cells fail to function normally and may accumulate in the bone marrow or circulate in the blood in extremely high numbers.21
While the exact cause of these mutations is often unknown, factors such as ionizing radiation, exposure to certain industrial chemicals like benzene, and specific genetic conditions can increase the risk of these chromosomal aberrations.31