Haematological Malignancy Flashcards
What are the principles of leukaemogeneis?
Leukaemogenesis is the production of leukaemia (blood cancer). It is a multi step process, with acquired genetic alterations in a long lived cell. There is then proliferstivem survival advantage to that mutated cell, this produces malignant clones. The malignant clone grows to dominate in the tissue.
What are the presentations of leukaemia?
Acutely: bone marrow failure, rapidly fatal if untreated, potentially curable eg childhood leukaemia, leukaemic cells do not differentiate
Chronically: leukaemic cells retain ability to differentiate, proliferation without bone marrow failure, potentially curable with modern therapy
What are the principles of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation?
Chemotherapy Goals
Curative: induce complete remission, consolidation to prevent relapse, maintenance (long term, low dose, prevent relapse)
Palliative: provide comfort, improve or prolong quality of life
Bone Marrow Transplant
Indicated when bone marrow stops working and is no longer producing enough healthy blood cells
May use autologous or allogenic transplants
Aim is curative via providing new stem cells, replacement of diseased or damaged bone marrow, or to allow treatment of condition with high doses of chemo or radiation by replacing or rescuing the damaged bone marrow through Tm
