Haem VI (Leukaemias) Flashcards
What is the treatment of choice for chronic myeloid leukaemia? [1]
Imatinib
CLL
Anaemia
ALL
CML
CLL
BCR-ABL fusion protein
The Philadelphia chromosome is present in more than 95% of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). It is due to a translocation between the long arm of chromosome 9 and 22 - t(9:22)(q34; q11). This results in part of the ABL proto-oncogene from chromosome 9 being fused with the BCR gene from chromosome 22. The resulting BCR-ABL gene codes for a fusion protein that has tyrosine kinase activity in excess of normal.
t(9:22)
Decreased leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
CML
inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase associated with the BCR-ABL defect
hypogammaglobulinaemia
What is the first line therapy for patients with CML?
Hydroxyurea
FCR
Imatinib
R-CHOP
Ibrutinib
What is the first line therapy for patients with CML?
Hydroxyurea
FCR
Imatinib
R-CHOP
Ibrutinib
Which of the following is used in NHL?
FOLFOX
FOLFIRI
FOLFIRINOX
ABVD
R-CHOP
R-CHOP
Which of the following is used in HL?
FOLFOX
FOLFIRI
FOLFIRINOX
ABVD
R-CHOP
Which of the following is used in HL?
FOLFOX
FOLFIRI
FOLFIRINOX
ABVD
R-CHOP
A 55 yr old is having chemotherapy for her NHL.
Days after treatment, she notices blood in her urine.
Which treatment is most likely to have caused this?
Doxorubicin
Vincristine
Cyclophosphomide
Cisplatin
Bleomcyin
A 55 yr old is having chemotherapy for her NHL.
Days after treatment, she notices blood in her urine.
Which treatment is most likely to have caused this?
Doxorubicin
Vincristine
Cyclophosphomide - causes haemorrhagic cystitis
Cisplatin
Bleomcyin
A patient is diagnosed with CML
What is the first line treatment?
- Infliximab
- Imatinib
- Vincristine
- Ritixumab
A patient is diagnosed with CML
What is the first line treatment?
- Infliximab
- Imatinib - Vincristine
- Ritixumab
What are the common genetic alterations seen in CLL?
- most common genetic change is the deletion in chromosome 13
- TP53 mutation
- Trisomy 12: presence of an extra 12th chromosome
- Overexpression of BCL2 proto-oncogene: suppresses programmed cell death (i.e. increases cell survival)
Describe the natural history of CLL
- An initial inciting event or abnormal reaction to an antigen stimulus leads to genetic alterations that allow the formation of a clone of B lymphocytes
- This is a premalignant disorder, which is referred to as monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL).
- Overtime, further genetic mutations and bone marrow microenvironment changes promote the progression to CLL. This transformation from MBL to CLL occurs at a rate of 1% per year.
- A proportion of patients who develop CLL may remain asymptomatic for many years. However, others may get rapidly progressive disease with complications associated with the defective immune function including cytopaenias and hypogammaglobulinaemia (i.e. low antibody levels).
The symptomatic stage of CLL is characterised by progressive lymphadenopathy, which includes splenomegaly and hepatomegaly, that occurs due to the accumulation of incompetent lymphocytes.
The hallmark feature of CLL is [] due to the infiltration of []
The hallmark feature of CLL is lymphadenopathy due to the infiltration of malignant B lymphocytes.
- symmetrically enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin which is seen in more than 80% of patients at the time of diagnosis
What are the features associated with complications of CLL?
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia: pallor, dyspnoea, weakness, dizziness
Immune thrombocytopaenia: petechiae, bruising, mucosal bleeding
Hypogammaglobulinaemia: recurrent infections (organ specific)
What would indicate that CLL may be active in a patient? [3]
The onset of the classic “B symptoms” is a sign that the CLL may be active. The symptoms include:
* Frequent, severe night sweats
* Unexplained weight loss >10% of body weight in the previous 6 months
* High fever in the absence of any infections (>38°C)
Describe how you would investigate for CLL [4]
FBC:
- Presence of excess lymphocytes on full blood count that are found to be clonal
PBS:
- indicated to confirm lymphocytosis
- presence of smudge cells artefacts from lymphocytes damaged during the slide preparation because of the fragile nature of these cells.
Immunophenotyping:
- shows the characteristic clonal B lymphocytes expressing CD5 and CD23 antigens.
- detect deletion of TP53 gene
Describe the staging criteria for CLL (there are two)
Binet staging - used more in the UK
* Stage A: < 3 lymphoid sites
* Stage B: ≥ 3 lymphoid sites
* Stage C: presence of anaemia ( < 100 g/L) and/or thrombocytopaenia (< 100 x10^9/L)
Rai staging
* Stage 0 (lymphocytosis): 25% at initial diagnosis
* Stage I-II (lymphocytosis + lymphadenopathy + organomegaly): 50% at initial diagnosis
* Stage III-IV (lymphocytosis + anaemia or thrombocytopaenia +/- lymphadenopathy/ organomegaly): 25% at initial diagnosis
Why might you perfom a Direct antiglobulin test (coombs test) with a query CLL patient? [1]
It should be done in all anaemic patients and before commencing therapy to identify autoimmune-related haemolytic anaemias.
What does NICE recomennd for CLL patients who are previously untreated and without TP53 mutations [3]
Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR)
What is the treatment advised by NICE for the first-line treatment of CLL (Binet stage B or C) in patients for whom FCR chemotherapy is not appropriate? [1]
Chemotherapy with bendamustine is advised by NICE as an option for the first-line treatment of CLL (Binet stage B or C) in patients for whom FCR chemotherapy is not appropriate.
For patients with FCR or bendamustine-based therapy unsuitable, what treatment does NICE recommend? [2]
For adults with FCR or bendamustine-based therapy unsuitable, NICE recommends obinutuzumab in combination with chlorambucil as an option.
What is the treatment NICE rec. for patients with TP53 deletion/mutation have a poor prognosis even after first line FCR combined chemotherapy? [1]
Patients with TP53 deletion/mutation have a poor prognosis even after first line FCR combined chemotherapy. In such cases, chemo agents like ibrutinib can be used.
[] is a monoclonal antibody which has also been shown to be effective in TP53 mutations.
Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody which has also been shown to be effective in TP53 mutations.
[] is the dominant clinical feature among the complication in CLL, which should be treated with [].
Auto‐immune cytopenia is the dominant clinical feature among the complication in CLL, which should be treated with corticosteroids.
[] provides the best opportunity of achieving long‐term disease‐free survival for patients with high‐risk CLL, including those with TP53 abnormalities.
Allogeneic stem‐cell transplantation provides the best opportunity of achieving long‐term disease‐free survival for patients with high‐risk CLL, including those with TP53 abnormalities.
It is a potential option in patients who fail chemotherapy and BCR inhibitor therapy or those with TP53 mutations that do not respond to treatment or relapse. In addition, it can also be considered in those with Richter transformation
Describe potential prophylaxis treatment might give patients with CLL? [4]
Vaccination: influenza, pneumococcal (ensure no contraindication with current therapy)
Antibiotics for infections
Consider intravenous immunoglobulin: treatment of secondary hypogammaglobulinaemia (i.e. IgG < 5g/L)
Consider Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and herpes zoster prophylaxis: usually in patients on treatment for relapsed CLL
Which chromosome deletion in CLL has bad prognostics? [1]
Chromosome 17 deletion
Describe the treatment plan for CLL
- Watch and wait (and vaccinate), until have symptoms or cytopaenias - unless otherwise the CLL is not introducing harm, and giving treatment might cause resistance or harm to patient
- Small molecules: Ibrutinib; Immunotherapy
Lectures
Describe the pathophysiology of ALL
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) affects one of the lymphocyte precursor cells, causing acute proliferation of a single type of lymphocyte, usually B-lymphocytes.
The precursor cell acquire specific chromosomal mutations, which leads to uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoblasts and evasion of immune surveillance
As a result, lymphoblasts infiltrate bone marrow and other organs. which restricts hematopoiesis and leads to bone marrow suppression.
What is the most common cytogenetic feature seen in ALL?
t(4;11)
t(12;21)
t(9;22)
Hypodiploid karyotype
Hypodiploid karyotype
What is the most common cytogenetic feature seen in ALL?
t(4;11)
t(12;21)
t(9;22)
Hypodiploid karyotype
Hypodiploid karyotype
ALL is commonly seen in which patient populations? [3]
Those with chromosomal abnormalities:
- Trisomy 21
- Klinefelter’s syndrome
Fanconi anaemia
Monozygotic twins