Final answer:
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is caused by a mutated retinoic acid receptor, blocking cell differentiation and allowing leukemic cells to continue proliferating.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a type of leukemia that is caused by a mutated retinoic acid receptor. This mutation blocks cell differentiation, which is the process by which immature cells mature into specialized cells. As a result, leukemic cells are unable to mature and continue to proliferate, leading to the development of APL.
For example, the mutated retinoic acid receptor prevents promyelocytes in the bone marrow from differentiating into mature white blood cells. The accumulation of these immature cells in the bone marrow leads to a decrease in functional white blood cells, which impairs the immune system and increases the risk of infections.