Intro to Haematological Malignancies Flashcards
Who does haematological malignancies affect?
All age groups, even children
Which gender of adult gets haematological malignancies more?
M > F
Pathology of haematological malignancies
Multi step process
Acquired genetic alterations to a long lived cell
Proliferative/survival advantage to that mutated cell (have to have a proliferative/survival advantage over the other cells to give it a malignant phenotype)
This produces a malignant clone
The malignant clone grows to dominate the tissue (e.g. bone marrow or lymph nodes)
Drivers of haematopoiesis
Multipotential haematopoietic stem cells
Features of multipotential haematopoietic stem cells
Can self renew
multipotential i.e. can produce all types of cells
Definition of haematopoiesis
Refers to the commitment and differentiation processes that lead to the formation of all blood cells from haematopoietic stem cells
Myeloid lineage of malignancies are called what?
Myeloid malignancies
Types of cells of myeloid malignancies
Red cells
Platelets
Granulocytes
Monocytes
Lymphoid lineage of malignancies are called what?
Lymphoid malignancies
Types of cells of lymphoid malignancies
B cells
T cells
What is the commonest malignancy of childhood?
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Pathology of development of AML (acute myeloid leukaemia)
Genetic mutation in the stem cells
Early accumulate of myeloid progenitor cells which keep proliferating without maturing or differentiating -> bone marrow cells -> AML
so the bone marrow is stuffed with useless cells
No N cells in the blood
Pathology of the development of ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia)
Genetic mutation in the stem cells
Ongoing proliferation at a slightly higher rate and an increase in differentiation
Accumulation of more N cells (red cells, neutrophils etc) in the blood
ALL
How do mature lymphoid malignancies (e.g. Hodgkin / non Hodgkin lymphoma) come about?
Mutations occur in a later place e.g. bone marrow, lymph node after already having ALL
Most likely occur in the germinal cell of the lymph node
Different mutations in the same stem cell compartment lead to what?
Different phenotypes
AML can lead to what?
Myeloproliferative disorders
What is the difference between leukaemia and lymphoma?
The distribution of the disease
Bone marrow malignancy is described as what?
Leukaemia
Lymphoma is found in what?
Lymph tissue or
Solid organs
Commonest form of leukaemia is what?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Features of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Perfectly well
Elderly usually
Features of Burkitt’s lymphoma / leukaemia
Most aggressive
commonly presents with lumps
Can affect young adults / children
Can be both lymphoma and leukaemia as it can present with both
Acute leukaemias
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
Chronic leukaemia s
Chronic myeloid leukaemias (CML)
Chronic lymphoid leukaemia (CLL)