ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA (AML) The FAB Classification System

Subtype

Subtype Name

Frequency

Cell Characteristics

M0

Myeloblastic 9- 12% Leukemia cells are extremely immature and do not have characteristics of the cell they were supposed to become.

M1

AML with minimal maturation 16- 26% Immature myeloid cells (or myeloblasts/ "blasts") are the main type of cell in the marrow sample. AML with maturation

M2

20-29%

Samples contain a lot of myeloblasts, but show more maturity than M1 subtype. Myeloblast is the last stage of development before the immature cell commits to becoming a white or red blood cell, or platelet

M3

Promyelocytic (APL) 1-6%

Leukemia cells are still immature, between the myeloblast and myelocyte stage. Very underdeveloped, but starting to look and act more like a white cell.

M4

Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia 16- 33%

Leukemic cells are a mix of granulocytic and monocytic cell types The leukemia cells are looking more like white blood cells than the previous stage, but still very immature.

M5

Acute Monocytic Leukemia

More than 80% of the cells are monocytes. May be 9- 26% at different stages of maturity.

M6

Acute Erythroid Leukemia

1-4%

Leukemic cells are immature cells with characteristics of red blood cells.

M7

Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia

0-2% Leukemic cells are immature with characteristics of platelets.