Great question! While their names look almost identical, CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) and CMML (Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia) are actually quite different in several important ways.
Here's a quick breakdown of the key differences:
Where they come from
- CML develops from immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow
- CMML Show Full Answer
Great question! While their names look almost identical, CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) and CMML (Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia) are actually quite different in several important ways.
Here's a quick breakdown of the key differences:
Where they come from:
- CML develops from immature myeloid cells in the bone marrow
- CMML develops specifically from monocytes, a type of white blood cell
What causes them:
- CML is caused by a specific chromosome mutation called the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, where two chromosomes swap pieces to create an abnormal gene
- CMML is caused by different gene changes — no Philadelphia chromosome involved How common they are:
- CML makes up about 15% of all leukemia cases, with around 9,000 diagnoses per year in the U.S.
- CMML is much rarer, with only about 1,100 diagnoses per year in the U.S.
Subtypes and phases:
- CML progresses through three phases: chronic, accelerated, and blast
- CMML is categorized into three subtypes (CMML-0, CMML-1, CMML-2) based on the number of immature cells (blasts) in the blood and bone marrow
Treatment:
- Because they have different causes and cell origins, they are treated with completely different therapies
It's always worth discussing your specific subtype and treatment options with your care team, as they can tailor advice to your individual situation.
October 3
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