Acute myleocytic leukemia is a cancer of the blood which is heterogenous in nature, making it rather difficult to consistently treat. A rare subtype of acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelocyticleukemia is characterized by a differentiation block at the myelocyticstage and by a reciprocal translocation affecting chromosomes 15 and 17 (Fielding, et al. 1994). As such, acute myelocytic leukemia has not received as much attention as acute myelocytic leukemia, and had not, until relatively recently, received the kind of research necessary to find effective treatments. This rare blood cancer had been universally fatal until 1985. Since that point, this rare form of cancer has experienced a significant boost in research and treatment. This paper will examine the chromosomal abnormalities which make up acute myelocyticleukemia, current treatments, and current research into acute myelocyticleukemia. The point of the examination is to provide a greater level of understanding into this form of cancer. 5 pgs. bibliography lists 8 sources.
