Antileukemic

Antileukemic activity is the ability of a substance or compound to prevent or treat blood cancers such as leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that results in an excessive production of abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal cells crowd out the normal cells in the marrow, leading to a decrease in the number of healthy red and white blood cells and platelets. Antileukemic drugs work by inhibiting the growth and spread of the abnormal white blood cells. This can be done by interfering with the cell's DNA, or by blocking the signals that tell the cell to divide and proliferate. In some cases, antileukemic therapies may also involve killing the abnormal cells directly. Antileukemic drugs are important in treating certain types of leukemia, such as acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myeloid leukemia.