Hematological Malignancies Flashcards
What chronic infection is associated with gastric MALT lymphoma?
Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection
Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that can cause stomach infections.
What is the relationship between endemic Burkitt lymphoma and malaria?
Suggests an interplay between malaria, host immunity, and EBV infection
Endemic Burkitt lymphoma is often found in malaria-prone regions.
Which individuals have increased risk for hematological malignancies due to immunosuppression?
Individuals with HIV/AIDS, post-organ transplant patients, those on chronic immunosuppressive therapy
Immunosuppression can lead to higher susceptibility to various cancers.
What autoimmune disorders are associated with a higher risk of certain lymphomas?
Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune conditions can increase the risk of developing lymphomas.
What are proto-oncogenes?
Normal cellular genes that can become oncogenes through mutations or aberrant expression patterns
Oncogenes promote cancer when mutated or expressed at high levels.
What is a key feature of hematological malignancies compared to solid tumors?
High frequency of chromosomal translocations
Chromosomal translocations are a common genetic alteration in blood cancers.
Which oncogene is overexpressed in follicular lymphoma?
BCL-2
BCL-2 is involved in the suppression of apoptosis.
What role do tyrosine kinases play in hematological malignancies?
They are important mediators of intracellular signaling
Mutations in tyrosine kinases are targets of effective cancer therapies.
Name three common tyrosine kinases involved in hematological malignancies.
- ABL1 in CML
- JAK2 in myeloproliferative neoplasms
- FLT3 in AML
Tyrosine kinases are crucial for cell signaling and proliferation.
What is the most important tumor-suppressor gene altered in many hematological malignancies?
p53
p53 is a critical gene for regulating the cell cycle and preventing tumor formation.
What is clonal haematopoiesis?
Occurs when a hematopoietic stem cell gives rise to cells with the same genetic mutation
Clonal haematopoiesis increases the risk of developing malignancies.
What are the three possible results when a hematopoietic stem cell divides?
- Symmetrical division into two daughter stem cells
- Symmetrical division into two progenitor cells
- Asymmetrical division into a daughter cell and a progenitor cell
These division pathways can lead to different evolutionary pathways for malignant cells.
What happens to telomeres with each round of cell replication?
They decrease by approximately 200 base pairs of DNA
Telomeres protect chromosome ends but shorten with each cell division.
What enzyme do germ and stem cells contain to maintain telomere length?
Telomerase
Telomerase allows cells to continue proliferation by adding telomeric repeats.
List the types of genetic abnormalities seen in blood cancers.
- Point Mutations
- Translocations
- Deletions
- Duplications and amplifications
- Epigenetic alterations
- Micro RNAs
These genetic changes can contribute to the development of hematological malignancies.
What is a point mutation?
A small change in the DNA sequence
Point mutations can lead to significant changes in protein function.
What is a translocation in genetics?
When parts of two different chromosomes swap places
Translocations can create fusion genes that may lead to cancer.
Give an example of a fusion gene created by translocation.
BCR-ABL1 in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
This fusion gene results from a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22.
What occurs during a deletion in genetics?
Part of a chromosome is lost
Deletions can remove essential genes, contributing to cancer development.
What is the significance of the 13q14 deletion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?
It removes a tumor-suppressor gene
This deletion is associated with the loss of critical regulatory functions in cells.
What are epigenetic alterations?
Changes that affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence
Epigenetic changes can be inherited and contribute to cancer progression.
What role do microRNAs play in cancer?
They control gene activity and can be disrupted in cancer
Changes in microRNA function can lead to abnormal cell growth.
What types of hematological malignancies are there?
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Myeloma
These types affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system.
Name two subtypes of leukemia.
- Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)
Leukemia is classified into acute and chronic forms based on the speed of progression.
True or False: Hematological malignancies are also known as blood cancers.
True
Blood cancers include various types affecting blood cells and marrow.
What is the full name of HL?
Hodgkin Lymphoma
What is the full name of NHL?
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
What type of lymphoma is characterized by follicular patterns?
Follicular Lymphoma
What type of lymphoma is known for its aggressive nature and large B-cells?
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
What is the term for a cancer that originates in plasma cells?
Myeloma
What is the term for the condition characterized by multiple lesions in plasma cells?
Multiple Myeloma
What is the term for a pre-cancerous condition involving plasma cells?
Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
What is the term for a solitary tumor of plasma cells?
Plasmacytoma
What are the main factors involved in the aetiology of haematological malignancies?
- Genetic factors
- Environmental factors
- Infections
- Immune factors
Name a genetic disorder that significantly increases the risk of haematopoietic malignancies.
Down’s syndrome
What is the increased risk factor for acute leukaemia in individuals with Down’s syndrome?
20- to 30-fold
List two other conditions associated with increased risk of haematopoietic malignancies.
- Bloom’s syndrome
- Fanconi’s anaemia
What type of leukaemia is associated with familial tendencies?
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
What is a significant environmental factor that can lead to myelodysplasia and AML?
Chronic exposure to benzene
What type of radiation is a risk factor for nearly all types of leukaemia?
Ionizing radiation
Which virus is linked to adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma?
Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)
What malignancy is associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)?
Endemic Burkitt lymphoma
Fill in the blank: HIV increases the risk of lymphomas, particularly those of _______ origin.
B-cell
True or False: Exposure to industrial solvents is not associated with secondary leukaemias.
False
Which human herpesvirus is connected to Kaposi’s sarcoma?
Human herpesvirus 8
