According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors don't understand the exact cause of leukemia. It seems to develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Acute leukemia begins with one or a few white blood cells that have a lost or damaged DNA sequence. These cells remain immature in what's known as a blast form, but maintain the ability to multiply. Because they don't mature and then die as normal cells do, they accumulate and begin to interfere with functions of vital organs. Eventually, they overwhelm the production of healthy cells.
Chronic leukemia involves more mature blood cells. They replicate and accumulate more slowly, so the progression of the disease is slower but it can still be deadly. Experts aren't sure why this process begins.
Eventually, a shortage of normal white blood cells leads to infection, anemia and excessive bleeding. Too many abnormal white blood cells can impair the function of bone marrow and infiltrate other organs. Death usually results from bleeding or infection.
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