3. CML and myeloproliferative disorders Flashcards
What is polycythaemia characterised by?
Polycythaemia is a condition that is characterised by a raised Hb concentration and raised haematocrit
What is relative polycythaemia?
caused by a lack of plasma (non-malignant) (rather than an increase in erythrocytes)
What increases the risk of relative polycythaemia?
Alcoholism, obesity and the use of diuretics
What is true polycythaemia?
Excess of erythrocytes
What does secondary (non-malignant) polycythaemia occur as a response to?
In response to increased EPO. In secondary polycythaemia, the bone marrow is normal and healthy, however, it is being stimulated by excess EPO.
What are causes of appropriately raised eythropoietin?
High altitude, hypoxic lung disease, cyanotic heart disease, high affinity haemoglobin
What are causes of inappropriately raised eythropoietin?
Renal disease (cysts, tumours, inflammation), uterine myoma, other tumours (liver, lung)
What are types of true polycythaemia?
Secondary (non-malignant) in response to increased EPO, and primary (myeloproliferative neoplasm)
What are myeloproliferative neoplasms that are Philadelphia negative?
Polcythaemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET), primary myelofibrosis (PMF)
What are myeloproliferative neoplasms that are Philadelphia positive?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
As cells develop they undergo TWO processes:
Differentiation and proliferation
What happens to differentiation and proliferation in chronic myeloid leukaemia?
You get increased proliferation of the myeloid cells but they maintain the ability to fully differentiate into mature cells
What happens to differentiation and proliferation in acute leukaemias?
In acute leukaemias, the same issue of overproduction of cells is present, however, they have undergone an extra biological change which is catastrophic. They have lost the ability to differentiate and mature so the bone marrow gets filled up of precursor cells.
What are examples of myeloid haematological malignancies?
Acute myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplasia, myeloproliferative disorders, chronic myeloid leukaemia
What are the percentages of blasts in AML?
blasts > 20%
What are the percentages of blasts in myelodysplasia?
blasts 5-19%
What are lymphoid haematological malignancies with precursor cell malignancy?
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B and T cell)
What are lymphoid haematological malignancies with mature cell malignancy?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma (Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin)
What is the difference between myeloid and lymphoid?**
The main difference between myeloid and lymphoid cells is that myeloid cells give rise to red blood cells, granulocytes, monocytes, and platelets whereas lymphoid cells give rise to lymphocytes and natural killer cells**
What processes are disrupted by mutation in myeloproliferative disorders?
Cellular proliferation (type 1), impair/block cellular differentiation (type 2) and prolong cell survival (Anti-apoptosis)
What are some mutation mechanisms?
DNA point mutations and chromosomal translocations, including creation of novel fusion gene and disruption of proto-oncogene
What are the main types of mutations that leads to cellular proliferation?
Tyrosine kinase mutations
What is the role of tyrosine kinases?
- Transmit cell growth signals from cell surface receptors to the nucleus.
- Activated by transferring phosphate groups to self and downstream proteins
- Normally held tightly in inactive state
- Promote cell growth but do NOT block maturation
If a mutation activates a tyrosine kinase gene, what will it result in?
It will result in an expansion of mature cells
In which type of disorder do you get increased proliferation but differentiation is normal?
Myeloproliferative disorders
With primary myelofibrosis you have an expanded clone of myeloid haemopoiesis in the bone marrow which is followed by?
Aggressive and reactive fibrosis of the bone marrow
What are some MPD-associated gene mutations?
JAK2, calreticulin, and MPL
In polycythaemia vera, which gene(s) are mutated and in what percentage of cases?
JAK2 undergoes a single point mutation (V617F) in 100% of cases of polycythaemia vera
In essential thrombocytopenia, what gene(s) are mutated and in what percentage of cases?
JAK2 V617F (60%), calreticulin (30%), MPL (5%)
In primary myelofibrosis, what gene(s) are mutated and in what percentage of cases?
JAK2 V617F (60%), calreticulin (30%)
What myeloproliferative disorders is the JAK2 mutation found in?
Polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia, primary myelofibrosis
What activates the JAK2 signalling pathway resulting in the normal response to EPO?
JAK2 is normally bound to the inactive EPO receptor. When EPO binds to the EPO receptor, the receptor dimerises and autophosphorylates and phosphorylates JAK2.
In the case of JAK2 mutation, what happens to the JAK2 signalling pathway?
In the case of JAK2 mutation, the JAK2 signalling pathway is constitutively active so you get an EPO response even in the absence of EPO
In what myeloproliferative disorders is calreticulin mutations found in?
In some cases of ET and PMF
How are myeloproliferative disorders diagnosed?
Based on a combination of clinical features (symptoms, splenomegaly), FBC+/- bone marrow biopsy, EPO level, mutation testing (phenotyping linked to acquired mutation)
Who is polycythaemia more common in?
Slightly more common in males