Leukaemia Flashcards
What are the types of leukaemia
Myeloid:
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML)
Myelodysplasia
Myeloproliferative
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
Lymphoid:
Precursor: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
Mature:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
- Multiple myeloma
- Lymphomas: Hodgkin’s, non-hodgkin’s
What are the features of acute leukaemia
Rapid onset
Early death if untreated (weeks or months)
Immature cells (blast cells)
Bone marrow failure → anaemia (pallor, fatigue, SoB), neutropoenia (infections), thrombocytopaenia (bleeding)
What is the epidemiology of AML
Seen in adults (40%) and children < 2
Incidence increases with age, prognosis worsens with increasing age
What is the aetiology of AML
- Duplication (trisomy): trisomy 8 and trisomy 21
- Inversion or translocation: t(8;21), inv (16), t(16;16) → fusion genes (RUNX1/RUNX1T1, CBG-beta/MYH11) → transcription factor function disturbance
- Chr loss/deletion (most common): del (5q) or del (7q)
Monoblast/megakaryoblast/erythroblast
What are the risk factors for AML
Familial or constitutional predisposition (e.g. Down syndrome)
Irradiation
Anti-cancer drugs
Cigarette smoking
Unknown
What are the signs and symptoms of AML
Anaemia: SOB, lethargy, pallor
Thrombocytopenia: bleeding, bruising
Neutropenia: infections
Bone pain
Local infiltration: hepatosplenomegaly, Lymphadenopathy, testes/CNS, bone pain
± hyperviscosity (very high WCC) → retinal haemorrhage/retinal exudate
What would investigations for AML show
Cytology: Auer rods, fin-speckled granules
Cytochemistry: stains with myeloperoxidase, Sudan Black stain
FBC: raised WCC
Blood film/BM aspirate: circulating blasts
Immunophenotyping: flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry (determine AML from ALL)
Molecular studies and FISH (some patients) → enable sub-classification of the acute myeloid leukaemia and adds prognostic value and aids treatment decisions (certain cytogenetic findings aid prognosis)
What is the management for AML
- Supportive: red cells, platelets, FFP/cryoprecipitate, Abx, long line insertion, allopurinol
- Chemotherapy
- Danorubicin + cyfabine - Targeted molecular therapy
- APML = All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and A2O3
- Biologics = anti-CD33 antibody linked to cytotoxic antibody (e.g. gemtuzumab) - SCT
What is Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML)
t(15;17) → PML-RARA fusion gene → monocytic leukaemia
Acute myeloid leukaemia that causes sudden haemorrhage (DIC + hyperfibrinolysis)
± gum infiltration
± skin, CNS infiltration → CN palsy
Characterised by an excess of abnormal promyelocytes (Auer rods)
What is the epidemiology of ALL
Children, 2-5yo
Most common childhood malignancy
What is the aetiology of ALL
Lymphoblastic infiltration → B OR T cell lineages
Bone marrow → B-lineage
Thymus → T-lineage (more common)
85% are B-lineage, 5% T cell lineage
May get philadelphia chromosome +ve (Transformation from CML)
What are the signs and symptoms of ALL
Children:
Bone marrow failure (anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropoenia)
Local infiltration
- Lymphadenopathy (± thymic enlargement)
- Splenomegaly
- Hepatomegaly
- Testes, CNS (these are ‘sanctuary sites’as chemotherapy cannot reach them easily)
- Bone (causing pain)
Adults: similar presentation to AML + lymphadenopathy ± thymic mass
What may investigations show for ALL
FBC: Anaemia, Raised WCC (BUT Neutropenia), thrombocytopenia
>20% blasts
Film: high nucleus: cytoplasm ratio
Bone marrow biopsy
Immunophenotyping: differentiate between AML and LL AND between T and B lineage
Cytogenetic/molecular genetic analysis: Ph Chr +ve → imatinib
What is the management for ALL
- Supportive: blood products, Abx prophylaxis, hyperK+ Mx, hyperUricaemia Mx, central venous catheter)
- Chemotherapy: systemic (2-3 years) + CNS specific
- Molecular treatment
- Ph +ve → imatinib
- Rituximab (anti-CD20) - Transplant
What is the prognosis of ALL
Children: 5-year disease-free survival of 80% (85% of children are cured)
Adults: 5-year disease-free survival of 30-40%
Prognosis worsens with increasing age
Prognosis is very dependent on cytogenetic/genetic subgroups: hyperdiploidy = good prognosis