The actual causes of leukemia are still unknown to medical science. Although there are many speculations upon this matter, scientists haven't yet found any conclusive evidence regarding the exact causes and risk factors of leukemia. However, medical science has made great progresses in identifying various genetic particularities that are nowadays considered to be underlying causes of leukemia. It seems that each type of leukemia is caused by a specific set of genetic dysfunctions which triggers an overproduction of diseased cells. Thanks to the ongoing efforts of medical scientists focused towards unveiling the factors involved in causing the occurrence and the development of leukemia, modern medicine may soon come up with an effective cure for this type of cancer.



Scientists have recently revealed a connection between T-cell acute lymphatic leukemia (T-ALL) and ABL1 gene. ABL1 resides in chromosome 9. Due to genetic dysfunctions, a fragment of DNA that contains ABL1 fuses with another gene, thus causing T-ALL. ABL1 gene is also known to have a role in the occurrence of various other types of leukemia. Oncologists explain that the abnormal activity of ABL1 cancer gene can be countered with the means of already-existent leukemia medications such as Glivec. Thus, Glivec may also be effective in overcoming the cases of T-ALL that are caused by the malfunctioning ABL1 gene.

Inappropriate activity of ABL1 gene is known to be the underlying cause of more than 6 percent of all T-ALL cases. ABL1 is in fact a type of protein that regulates various cellular processes. Impaired activity of ABL1 determines a wide range of cellular dysfunctions. In the case of T-ALL, ABL1 is responsible for causing an overproduction of diseased blasts, cells that are unable to reach the stage of maturity. As a result, these partially-developed cells can't fulfill their actual purpose inside the body, generating serious impairments at different levels of the organism.

Functionless blasts multiply at abnormally high rates, eventually outnumbering healthy cells. In addition, diseased T-ALL cells block the production of normal blood cells, causing a decrease in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In present, T-cell acute lymphatic leukemia is known as the most common form of cancer among children. T-ALL predominantly affects children under the age of 15 and it is rarely seen in older children or young adults.

Medical scientists are currently trying to modify the leukemia drug Glivec so that it can also be administered to patients with T-ALL. Although Glivec is considered to be a reliable medication, it hasn't been tested yet on patients diagnosed with T-ALL. However, oncologists believe that in future Glivec and other ABL1 inhibitors will be able to completely overcome T-ALL.