leukemia

American  

[loo-kee-mee-uh] / luˈki mi ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. any of several cancers of the bone marrow that prevent the normal manufacture of red and white blood cells and platelets, resulting in anemia, increased susceptibility to infection, and impaired blood clotting.

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leukemia Scientific  

/ lo̅o̅-kē′mē-ə /

1. Any of various acute or chronic neoplastic diseases of the bone marrow in which unrestrained proliferation of white blood cells occurs, usually accompanied by anemia, impaired blood clotting, and enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Certain viruses, genetic defects, chemicals, and ionizing radiation, are associated with an increased risk of leukemia, which is classified according to the cellular maturity of the involved white blood cells.

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leukemia Cultural  

1. A kind of cancer in which the number of white blood cells in the blood greatly increases. Leukemia usually spreads to the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, and other areas of the body, causing destruction of tissues and often resulting in death.

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Other Word Forms

• antileukemic adjective
• leukemic adjective

Etymology

Origin of leukemia

First recorded in 1850–55; earlier leuchaemia, from German Leukämie; equivalent to leuko- + -emia

Example Sentences

It turned out to be acute myeloid leukemia with a rare mutation, mostly seen in older people.

From Los Angeles Times

Schlossberg, daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, revealed her acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis in a New Yorker essay in November.

From The Wall Street Journal

Unlike our decision to marry, acute leukemia came on suddenly.

From Los Angeles Times

One dataset came from a human leukemia cell line that is commonly used to study red blood cell traits.

From Science Daily

According to findings published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, forskolin not only slows the growth of leukemia cells but also increases how well chemotherapy drugs work.

From Science Daily