BCR-ABL and Cancer

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a cancer of the blood caused by the BCR-ABL protein. CML is diagnosed by examining blood and bone marrow under the microscope.

Smear slides comparing normal and cancerous blood. CML is characterized by the overproduction of white blood cells, shown in purple.

A microscope image of normal blood smear with two white blood cells.
Normal blood smear
A microscope image of CML blood smear with nine white blood cells.
CML blood smear