During the accelerated stage of CML, blood cell counts skyrocket and symptoms abound. Generally, they live only several months. Experts agree that the abnormal gene that causes CML is acquired, not inherited. However, it is not clear why the gene begins to mutate. The American Cancer Society confirms that some risk factors for contracting leukemia are smoking and increasing age.
Environmental factors can also play a role.
There is also concern that very high-voltage power lines might cause leukemia. But most people who develop leukemia do not have any of the known risk factors. It involves an enzyme called tyrosine kinase, a class of enzyme which cancers frequently create in the body. We thought that if we could find a way to inhibit the growth of these enzymes we could fight this particular mutant protein. The two standard treatment options for CML have been either a bone marrow transplant, which has extreme limitations, or a daily injection of the drug interferon.