Concepts of haematological malignancies

Question 1

What is malignant haemopoiesis characterised by?

Answer 1

Increased numbers of abnormal & dysfunctional cells

Loss of normal activity

Question 2

How can haematological malignancies occur in haemopoiesis?

Answer 2

Occurs due to one or more of the following:

• Increased proliferation (in the absence of a stimulus)
• Lack of differentiation/maturation
• Lack of apoptosis

Question 3

How does acute leukaemia occur in haemopoiesis?

Answer 3

Proliferation of abnormal progenitors
with block in differentiation/maturation

Question 4

How does chronic myeloid leukaemia occur in haemopoiesis?

Answer 4

Proliferation of abnormal progenitors,
but NO differentiation/maturation block

Question 5

What are clone cells?

Answer 5

Population of cells derived from a single parent cell

Question 6

What is monoclonal and polyclonal?

Answer 6

Monoclonal = produced by, being, or composed of cells derived from a single cell.

Polyclonal = produced by, involving, or being cells derived from two or more cells of different ancestry or genetic constitution.
Many (poly) different antibodies that bind to many different epitopes on the target antigen make up polyclonal antibodies.

Question 7

Is normal haemopoiesis monoclonal or polyclonal?

Answer 7

Normal haemopoiesis is polyclonal

Malignant haemopoiesis is usually considered monoclonal

Question 8

What are lymphoid and myeloid cells?

Answer 8

Lymphoid lineage cells include T, B, and natural killer (NK) cells.

Megakaryocytes (develops into platelets) and erythrocytes as well as granulocytes and macrophages belong to the myeloid lineage

Question 9

What are the reasons for different haematological malignancy sub-types?

Answer 9

Cells at different developmental stages can undergo neoplastic transformation

Involvement of different anatomical regions unique to the cell-type, either at the point of origin, or after migration

Different clinicopathological characteristics (clinical and biological behaviour)