Difference Between AML and ALL (With Table)

AML expands as Acute myeloid leukemia. It is the cancer of bone marrow in which the bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells in large numbers. Bone marrow is the interior soft tissue of the bone. This bone marrow is from where new blood cells are formed. Since it affects the myeloid cells and progresses rapidly, the name acute myeloid leukemia.

ALL expands as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is also a cancer of blood cells that spreads rapidly. It affects immature lymphocytes. It is a serious condition and if untreated can be fatal. It is very common among children and can be treated with proper medications. It rarely occurs in adults for which there are very few chances of cure. It is caused due to mutation in the bone marrow cells.

Comparison Table Between AML and ALL

What is AML?

AML is caused by mutations in the genetic material. These mutations cause the bone marrow cells to produce progenitor blood cells that can develop into different blood cells in large numbers. As a result of the overproduction of blood cells, these excessive blood cells accumulate and abrupt the functioning of normal healthy cells.

The real cause for the mutation causing AML is not known. But, the risk factors include previous cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, people who are over 60 years are more likely to get AML, Men have the greatest probability of getting AML.

Exposure to radiation or carcinogenic chemicals like benzene increases the risk, smoking, genetic and other blood disorders can also increase the risk. However, people with no risk factors can also develop AML. Some people with risk factors do not develop AML.

Early symptoms of AML are similar to the flu symptoms and symptoms of another common disease. But in later stages, the symptoms get severe and include fever, bone pain, lethargy, fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath, frequent infections, swollen lymph nodes, unusual bleeding from gums and nose, and easy bruising. Due to abnormal WBC function, the body’s immune system is affected thus the person becomes prone to infections.

What is ALL?

ALL is caused by mutations that arise in the DNA. This mutation affects the normal cell division and causes the cells to divide at a large rate. In this case, the bone marrow produces the precursor for lymphocytes in large numbers which then develop into leukemic cells called the Lymphoblasts. These cells disrupt the functioning of normal cells and the immune system.

Risk factors of ALL are genetic disorders like Downs syndrome, being male, exposure to radiation, and previous cancer treatments. Infection with certain viruses like Epstein Barr virus or T-cell lymphoma virus can also lead to the development of ALL.

Symptoms include fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, stomach pain, and tiny red spots under the skin. ALL is most generally reported in children and older adults. Doctors run diagnostic tests to confirm ALL. A blood count test is done to check the number of different blood cells. To check if cancer has spread to the nervous system a lumbar puncture is given and the spinal fluid is drawn and checked.

Induction chemotherapy is given initially and multidrug chemotherapy is given as consolidation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Hematopoietic cell transplantation is also given as consolidation therapy.

Main Differences Between AML and ALL

1. AML causes the bone marrow to produce a large number of myeloblasts, platelets, and red blood cells. But, in ALL lymphocytes production is increased.
2. Both AML and ALL are leukemia and the symptoms are more or less similar.
3. AML is common among old people over 60 years but, ALL affects children of 2-10 years and people over 60 years.
4. The survival rate of a person with AML for 5 years is 29.5% while, the survival rate of ALL is 69.9%.
5. Diagnosis of AML is done by a blood smear test, bone marrow biopsy, and cytometric analysis to detect cell size and morphology. In the case of ALL cell counting and lumbar puncture, tests are conducted.
6. The consolidation therapy for AML consists of hematopoietic cell transplantation, high-dose chemotherapy, and transplantation of abnormal cells with healthy stem cells. On the other hand, multidrug chemotherapy, Hematopoietic cell therapy, and stem cell therapy are the consolidation therapies for ALL.

Conclusion

Both AML and ALL are severe types of cancer that affect children and older people. They are usually caused by a mutation in the genetic material that can be induced either by exposure to radiation and harmful chemicals or maybe due to an underlying genetic condition. Both cancers affect blood cells that originate from the bone marrow. It causes the production of cancerous blood cells that accumulate and affect the normal functioning of cells. They are also transported through the blood to other parts of the body.

Symptoms are severe during later stages and clinical diagnosis can confirm the disease. If detected with these diseases patients are treated with radiation and chemotherapy. If the first-line treatments are not effective, consolidation treatments are given further. The survival rate is high for ALL and low for AML. There are various advanced chemotherapy treatments available for these diseases.

References

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pbc.21207
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2141.1989.tb07645.x