ALL

Question 1

What is the most common cancer in children ?

Answer 1

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Question 2

What type of stem cells is ALL a cancer of?

Answer 2

lymphoid stem cell

Question 3

Does ALL mostly occur in T cell cell lineage or B cell lineage, and give the %?

Answer 3

B cell.

80%-85% of ALL cases take place in the B cell lineage , with 10-15% taking place in the t cell lineage

Question 4

What genetic condition can act as a genetic predisposition for ALL?
What is the risk of the genetic condition causing this ALL/ leukemogenesis?

Answer 4

down’s syndrome.

Risk is 20 fold but the mechanism of leukemogenesis is unknown.

Question 5

Name the symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Answer 5

Anaemia
Infections
bleeding
Bone and joint pain

Question 6

Explain why the patient may develop these symptoms or state what would cause them?

Answer 6

• Anaemia – Reduce red blood cells count – Look pale / feel tired – Why when this is a white cell cancer? • Infections – You will be susceptible to infection – Lack of ‘appropriate’ white blood cells • Bleeding – Lack sufficient platelets for clotting – Bruise very easily
• Bone / joint pain – All the space in the bone marrow will be taken up by the ‘blast’ cancer cells – They will spread outside of the bone cavity – There will be no space for red cells & platelets