Acute Leukemia (Goorha) Flashcards
What are the two divisions of acute leukemia?
acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemia
What cellular feature is characteristic of leukemia?
accumulation of malignant WBCs in BM and blood
What causes the morbidity and mortality associated with leukemia?
- BM failure
(anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia) - Infiltration of organs
(such as liver, spleen, lymph nodes, meninges, brain, skin, testes)
FAB classification of acute myeloid leukemia:
M0-M7
FAB classification of acute lymphoblastic leukemia:
L1-L3
Most common form of leukemia in children
ALL
Acute leukemia that occurs in all age groups:
AML
Highest in kids ages 3-7
ALL
Increasingly common with advanced age
AML
What is the difference between primary and secondary AML?
primary AML = de novo
secondary AML develops from myelodysplastic syndrome or other hematatological malignancies
Which is more difficult to treat: primary or secondary AML?
secondary
Acute leukemia that shows a notable rise in patients around 40 years old:
ALL
Three treatment phases of ALL:
- remission induction
- consolidation (intensification)
- maintenance
Why is allopurinol administered to ALL patients receiving treatment?
it counters hyperuricemia resulting from tumor cell breakdown
Do adults or children with ALL have better cure rate? Why?
Children; this is possibly due to worse genetic features in adults
Disorders associated with causing acute leukemia (etiology):
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Myeloproliferative diseases
- Down’s syndrome
- Fragile chromosome syndromes (Fanconi’s anemia)
- Aplastic anemia + Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Etiologies of acute leukemia related to exposure:
- Idiopathic (vast majority)
- Prior chemotherapy
- Prior radiotherapy
- Chemical exposure (benzene)
Where does malignant transformation occur in acute leukemia?
hematopoetic stem cells or early progenitors
What does genetic damage lead to, in acute leukemia?
(1) increased rate of proliferation
(2) reduced apoptosis
(3) block in cellular differentiation
Collectively, what is the result of genetic damage associated with acute leukemia?
accumulation of blast cells (early BM hematopoietic cells)
Acute leukemia is defined as:
- > 20% blasts in blood or BM
2. cytogenetic or molecular genetic abnormalities (even if blasts are <20%)
T/F: Acute leukemias are aggressive diseases.
T: no treatment = death
What is immunotyping (in terms of AML/ALL)?
analysis of the pattern of antigen expression on surface of blast cells