• ALL is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

  • It involves abnormal proliferation of immature lymphoid cells called lymphoblasts.

  • It is the most common type of cancer in children.

  • It can arise from:

    • B-cell lineage

    • T-cell lineage

  • Symptoms may include:

    • Fatigue

    • Fever

    • Frequent infections

    • Bruising/bleeding

    • Bone or joint pain

    • Enlarged lymph nodes

  • Treatment may include chemotherapy, targeted therapy and, in selected cases, stem-cell transplantation.

Key Pointers

  • Full form: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

  • Site: Blood + bone marrow

  • Cell involved: Lymphoblast

  • Common in: Children

  • Major forms: B-ALL and T-ALL