Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Atypical Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Disease, Unclassifiable

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) may include the following:

• Chemotherapy with one or more agents.
• Stem cell transplant.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia ¹.

Treatment of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Stem cell transplant.
• 13-cis-retinoic acid therapy.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment, such as targeted therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia ².

Treatment of atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia (aCML) may include chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with atypical chronic myeloid leukemia ³.

Because myelodysplastic /myeloproliferative disease, unclassifiable (MDS/MPD-UC) is a rare disease, little is known about its treatment. Supportive care treatments are used to manage problems caused by the disease such as infection, bleeding, and anemia.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease, unclassifiable ⁴.

Glossary Terms

A drug that is used in the treatment of acne and psoriasis and is being studied in cancer prevention. It is a type of retinoid. Also called isotretinoin.

A condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal.

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

CML. A slowly progressing disease in which too many white blood cells (not lymphocytes) are made in the bone marrow. Also called CML, chronic granulocytic leukemia, and chronic myeloid leukemia.

A slowly progressing type of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease in which too many myelomonocytes (a type of white blood cell) are in the bone marrow, crowding out other normal blood cells, such as other white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Also called CMML.

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called a clinical study.

Treatment using more than one anticancer drug.

Invasion and multiplication of germs in the body. Infections can occur in any part of the body and can spread throughout the body. The germs may be bacteria, viruses, yeast, or fungi. They can cause a fever and other problems, depending on where the infection occurs. When the body’s natural defense system is strong, it can often fight the germs and prevent infection. Some cancer treatments can weaken the natural defense system.

JMML. A rare form of childhood leukemia in which cancer cells often spread into tissues such as the skin, lung, and intestines. Also called JMML.

A group of diseases in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells. Also called preleukemia and smoldering leukemia.

A group of slow growing blood cancers, including chronic myelogenous leukemia, in which large numbers of abnormal red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets grow and spread in the bone marrow and the peripheral blood.

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

A method of replacing immature blood-forming cells that were destroyed by cancer treatment. The stem cells are given to the person after treatment to help the bone marrow recover and continue producing healthy blood cells.

Care given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease. The goal of supportive care is to prevent or treat as early as possible the symptoms of a disease, side effects caused by treatment of a disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to a disease or its treatment. Also called palliative care, comfort care, and symptom management.

A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances, such as monoclonal antibodies, to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells.

Treatment.