Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Causes & Risks

Causes

The cause of ALL is unknown. Research shows that certain risk factors are associated with the disease.

Risk Factors

The following factors increase your chance of developing ALL:

• Sex: male
• Race: white
• Age: children and elderly (adults older than 70)
• Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatment
• Exposure to atomic bomb radiation or nuclear reactor accident
• Exposure to toxic chemicals such as benzene (common in agriculture, dye works, and paint manufacturing and use)
• Certain genetic disorders, such as Down’s syndrome , Bloom syndrome, Fanconi's anemia, ataxia-telangiectasia, neurofibromatosis , Schwachman syndrome, IgA deficiency, and congenital X-linked agammaglobulinemia

The following risk factors are specific to childhood ALL:

• Having a brother or sister with leukemia
• Race: white or Hispanic
• Living in the United States
• Exposure to x-rays before birth
• Exposure to radiation
• Previous chemotherapy or other treatment that weakens the immune system
• Certain genetic disorders (see above)