ETIOLOGY OF ACUTE LEUKEMIAS IN CHILDREN

• Review on the hypotheses about how acute leukemia in children is originated
• A book to contribute to a greater understanding of the etiology of childhood acute leukemia
• A guide for present and future approaches, contributing for a better clinical management of leukemia in children

Childhood acute leukemias are one of the main causes of death in children aged 1 to 14 years in some countries; and unfortunately, we have been unable to prevent it. Certainly, a good parcel of it is due to the poor understanding about its etiology. This book aims to describe the most important theories and hypothesis regarding childhood acute leukemia. Written by the most outstanding researchers in the field, this book intends to contribute to a greater understanding of the etiology of this disease. It goes beyond the simple and common analysis of risk factors, which hardly allows us to draw definite conclusions. By addressing the etiology of the disease, discussing from molecular biology until epidemiology and clinical manifestations, this book will guide present and future approaches, contributing for a better clinical management of leukemia in children. The knowledge regarding etiology is a crucial step for a better evaluation, prevention and treatment of a disease. Thus, this book finally intends to provide such knowledge, allowing physicians and practitioners to a better manage of childhood acute leukemias.

Author
Physician (1990), MSc in Epidemiology (1994) and PhD in Clinical Epidemiology (2004) by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Dr. Mejia-Arangure serves as researcher at the Pediatric Hospital, National Medical Center “Century XXI” of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. He has 24 years of experience in research; his interests include investigating the etiology of acute leukemias in children. Dr. Mejia-Arangure has published more than 60 scientific articles, 10 book chapters and one book on clinical epidemiology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He has been reviewer for different journals, i.e. BMC Cancer, BMC Immunology, European Journal of Cancer Prevention, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Archives of Medical Research, BMJ Open, among others. Dr. Mejia-Arangure is also member of different International Societies and have received many Grants to support his research.

Table of Contents
1. Acute leukemias.
2. Etiology and prevention of acute leukemias in children.
3. Greaves Hypothesis.
4. Kinlen Hypothesis.
5. Direct viral leukemogenesis hypothesis.
6. The adrenal hypothesis.
7. The infective lymphoid recovery hypothesis.
8. Etiology of leukemia in children with Down syndrome. Epidemiologic perspective.
9. Origin of leukemia in children with Down syndrome.
10. Model: Susceptibility, exposure and vulnerability period.
11. Molecular origin of acute leukemias.
12. Environmental origin of acute leukemias in children.
13. Environmental factors related with the etiology of acute leukemia in children.
14. When an environmental factor would be considered the cause the acute leukemia in children.
15. The Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC).
16. An international effort to identify the causes of acute leukemias in children.