What causes acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?

The cause of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is largely unknown, but research is going on all the time into possible causes.

• It is thought that ALL is due to a series of genetic changes in a particular group of immature blood cells. It is not fully understood what causes the genetic changes, but some types of infection may be involved.
• In very rare cases, leukaemia may occur in people who have been exposed to chemicals such as benzene and other solvents used in industry.
• In recent years there has been publicity about the increase in leukaemia in people living close to nuclear power plants. Research is still under way to see if there is any definite link between these factors but as yet there is no evidence of this.
• Large doses of radiation and some drugs used to treat other cancers may also rarely cause leukaemia, many years later.
• Research has shown that exposure to electromagnetic fields, living near high-voltage electricity cables, and household radon do not increase a person’s risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
• People with certain genetic disorders, including Down’s syndrome and Fanconi’s anaemia, are known to have a higher risk of developing leukaemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, like other cancers, is not infectious and cannot be passed on to other people. It is not caused by an inherited faulty gene so other members of your family are unlikely to develop leukaemia.