Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Leukemia begins when normal blood cells change and grow uncontrollably. Blood cells (including red cells that carry oxygen, white cells that fight infection and platelets that cause blood to clot) are produced in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside the larger bones in the body. Types of leukemia are named after the specific blood cell that becomes cancerous, such as the lymphoid cells (white blood cells of the immune system) or the myeloid cells (cells of the bone marrow which develop into cells which fight bacterial infections).
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Clinical Trials
The Lurie Cancer Center is typically involved in more than 300 clinical trials at a given time, covering a broad range of subjects that may be relevant to your diagnosis. Browse our clinical trials to participate and help test new treatments.Patient Support
We offer a number of services to help patients and their families cope with the challenges of cancer treatment.Featured Programs
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants
Our Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Program is the leader in volume and types of transplants, averaging over 250 transplantations per year, resulting in survival rates consistently exceeding the national survival rate.
Stem cell transplants are regularly used to treat leukemia; visit the program's page to learn more.
Car T-Cell Therapy Program
Chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR T-cell therapy, uses a patient’s own immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Lurie Cancer Center is a leader in advancing this highly specialized form of immunotherapy through FDA-approved CAR T-cell treatments and cutting-edge clinical trials.
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