Leukemia: Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University : Feinberg School of Medicine
Leukemia
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).
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Chronic lymphocyctic leukemia (CLL)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
Hairy cell leukemia
Our Experts
Our experts work together in a multidisciplinary team (including dedicated, talented nursing staff and Lurie Cancer Center’s
Supportive Oncology Team
) to help create a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan and provide you with exceptional support. Get to know our physicians and the many other experts who will play an important role in your care.
meet the experts
Clinical Trials
Patients at the Lurie Cancer Center have access to a wide variety of clinical trials designed to explore promising new treatments. If you're interested in participating, browse our current trials to find options that may be relevant to your diagnosis—and help advance the future of cancer care.
find relevant clinical trials
Patient Support
We offer a number of services to help patients and their families cope with the challenges of cancer treatment.
Meet our support team
Join a support group
Browse our upcoming events
see all our support services
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.
find out 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.
find out more
Leukemia News
How Inflammation Fuels Blood Cancer Risk
Understanding the Link Between Nucleotide Metabolism and Chromatin Assembly
Scientists Map the Human Genome in 4D
Epigenetics and Cancer with Ali Shilatifard, PhD
Celebrating Scientific Discovery and Collaboration at Research Day 2025
Understanding Cellular Differences that Impact Lymphoma Development
Your support takes our research further.
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