Hematology Exam 4 Flashcards
List 3 types of hematologic neoplasms.
Leukemias, Lymphomas, Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs)
What do hematologic neoplasms result from?
Abnormal growth of the cells of the hematopoietic system
What is the difference between leukemias and lymphomas?
Leukemias primary site of disease is the blood or bone marrow, while lymphomas primary site of disease is in the lymph nodes and spleen.
What is the difference between chronic and acute leukemias?
Acute leukemias have an excess of precursor cells (blasts) and are more sudden and severe while chronic leukemias are excess mature cells and have a longer survival
What is the most common type of leukemia in children?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
What is the most common type of leukemia in adults?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
What is the difference between lymphoid and myeloid leukemia?
Lymphoid leukemias develop in lymphocytes, while myeloid leukemias develop in granulocytes or monocytes.
FAB classification system vs WHO classification system
FAB classification is only based on morphological characteristics.
WHO classification considers clinical features, morphology, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics.
Epigenetic mechanisms
Control how genes are expressed and silenced
Protooncogenes
Encode for proteins that are essential for NORMAL cellular function (GOOD genes)
Oncogenes
Mutation of protooncogene that alters the gene product and transforms the cell into a malignant phenotype (BAD gene)
Qualitative mutations
Structural change to the protooncogene and production of an abnormal protein product
Quantitative mutations
An overexpression of a normal protooncogene in a hematopoietic cell
Tumor suppressor genes
Code for proteins that protect cells from malignant transformation (GOOD)
List common treatments for leukemia and lymphomas
Chemotherapy, radiation, supportive therapy, targeted therapies, hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Describe hematologic remission
Normal bone marrow, recovery of peripheral blood counts, no microscopic evidence of leukemia cells
Describe cytogenetic remission
Absence of the cytogenetic defect determined by karyotyping methods
Describe molecular remission
Absence of leukemia cell nucleic acid sequences using highly sensitive molecular methods
What type of leukemia is Gleevec used for? What is Gleevec?
Chronic-phase CML - it is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that reduces massive cell proliferation and induces apoptosis of CML cells
Targeted therapies
Act specifically on malignant cells while leaving normal cells untouched
When is ATRA used?
Used to treat patients with APL with PML-RARA gene
What is Rituximab?
a monoclonal antibody; anti-CD20 that binds the CD20 antigen on malignant lymphocytes
What is a syngeneic HSC donor?
Donated from an identical twin
What is an allogeneic HSC donor?
From an HLA-identical sibing or HLA-matched unrelated donor; most common!!