Acute leukemia: a pediatric perspective

The spectrum of hematological malignancies differs markedly between children and adults. Moreover, diseases such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome also demonstrate distinct biologic features and responses to treatment between these populations. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the molecular pathology of acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, emphasizing areas in which studies in pediatric patients are providing unique insights into the hematopoietic malignancies of adults.