Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue found inside the hollow interior of bones that contain immature cells called stem cells (Hematopoietic, Mesenchymal, Endothelial), which produce all the body’s red blood cells and platelets, and most white blood cells. Hematopoietic stem cells produce:

· leukocytes (white blood cells), which are cells of the immune system defending against infectious diseases and foreign material;

· erythrocytes (red blood cells), which are the most common blood cell and are the body’s principal mean of carrying oxygen to the body tissues and organs;

· thrombocytes (platelets), which are involved in hemostasis, enabling the formation of blood clots;

Approximately 4% of our total bodyweight consist of bone marrow and is an important factor in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Leukemia, a type of blood cancer in which there is an abnormal proliferation of white blood cells in the bone marrow, infiltrate vital organs and glands, making them enlarge or malfunction. The abnormal white blood cells may also crowd out healthy cells, preventing the bone marrow from producing enough normal healthy cells.

In addition to leukemia, many other cancers can be diagnosed by analyzing the bone marrow for malignant cells in a test called a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.