The American Cancer Society defines cancer as a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and the spread of abnormal cells. There are more than 100 different cancer diseases. In each, cancer cells divide haphazardly and typically create a non-structured mass or tumor. Unlike benign growths, which remain in the part of the body in which they start, malignant tumors will destroy the part of the body where they originate before spreading elsewhere, starting new growth and causing additional destruction. The organ where cancer cells originate determines the characteristics of those cells when they migrate to other parts of the body.

For people under age 85, cancer is the leading cause of death from disease in the United States. It is estimated that in 2004, 290,890 men and 272,810 women will die from cancer.

Half of all US males and one-third of all US females can expect to develop cancer in their lifetimes.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a cancer of the blood in which too many granulocytes are produced in the bone marrow. In 95% of cases, the disease is caused by a chromosomal translocation resulting in the fusion of the Bcr and Abl genes. The resulting Bcr-Abl gene product is the major driver of the disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 4,600 patients were diagnosed with CML in 2005 and that 850 patients died of the disease in the same year. The prevalence of CML in the United States is estimated to be above 20,000.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is an uncommon subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. APL is characterized by a chromosomal translocation involving the retinoic acid receptor-alpha gene on chromosome 17. In 95% of cases of APL, the retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RAR alpha) gene is involved in a translocation. In APL, there is an abnormal accumulation of immature granulocytes called promyelocytes. The accumulation of promyelocytes in the bone marrow results in a reduction in the production of normal red blood cells and platelets resulting in anemia and thrombocytopenia. Either leukopenia (low white cell count) or leukocytosis (high white cell count) may be observed in the peripheral blood. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath from anemia, easy bruising and bleeding from thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy, and fever and infection from lack of normal white blood cells. Acute prolyelocytic leukemia accounts for approximately 10% of AML cases, or about 1,500 cases per year in the United States.

Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast growing type of lung cancer that tends to spread more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer. SCLC usually starts in the bronchi in the center of the chest and can grow quickly and spread rapidly to other parts of the body. There are three different types of SCLC; small cell carcinoma (oat cell cancer), mixed small cell/large cell carcinoma, and combined small cell carcinoma. The traditional staging system is usually not used for SCLC. Instead, patients are classified as having either limited or extensive disease. Smoking is almost always the cause of SCLC. According to the American Cancer Society about 15% of all lung cancer cases are SCLC.