Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Multiple Myeloma Lecture Powerpoint Flashcards
Induction chemo vs consolidation chemo
Chemo therapy used to reduce tumor load without intention of cure vs used to induce a remission
Remission
Disease free but not necessarily a cure
Intensification
Chemotherapy after complete remission with higher doses of chemo with intent of increasing cure rate or prolonging remission duration
Zubrod scale
A scale from 0 (normal), 1 (symptomatic and ambulatory), 2 (ambulatory 50% of time and need occasional assistance), 3 (ambulatory less than 50% of time nursing care needed), or 4 (bedridden) to analyze performance status of cancer patient
Flow cytometry
Lab test of peripheral blood or bone marrow aspirate that can identify circulating myeloblasts in the majority of patients by characteristic patterns of surface antigen expression, used in most hematological malignancies to make diagnosis
Gold standard for diagnosis of leukemias
Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration of marrow
Is thrombocytopenia a contraindication to bone marrow biopsy and aspiration of marrow?
No
Prechemo evaluation protocol (6)
- Check for history of CHF (contraindication)
- HSV, CMV, HBV, HCV, HIV status
- HLA typing
- 2D echocardiogram
- Dental eval
- Central line placement
Drug choices to alleviate nausea and vomiting as a side effect of chemo (3)
- Dexamethasone
- lorazapam/ativan
- haldol
Drug choices to alleviate pancytopenia as a side effect of chemo (2)
- Neupogen (filgastrim)
- epogen (procrit)
Drug choices to alleviate diarrhea as a side effect of chemo (4)
- Imodium
- Octreotide
- Questran
- lomotil
The absolute neutrophil count calculation
Total WBC x (% of segs + % of bands)
Febrile neutropenia
A patient that has completed chemo or is still undergoing chemo that develops a fever (has ANC <1500) and are thus very susceptible to infections from various sources
Evaluation and treatment of febrile neutropenia
- Good physical exam (look at skin sites and catheters)
- culture
- CXR
- Cefepime (tx pseudomonas), antifungal (diflucan), antiviral (acyclovir)
Tumor lysis
A treatment complicationn of cancer where tumor cells being lysed by chemotherapeutic agents results in large release of K+, pohsphate, and nucleic acids into systemic circulation, occurs in rapidly dividing cancers and patients with large tumor load and can have severe effects such as NVD, lethargy, heart failure, renal failure, DIC, and sudden death
Prevention of tumor lysis (3)
- pre chemo hydration
- allopurinol/zyloprim
- careful monitoring
Autologous vs autogenic hematopoietic cell transplant
-Either an autotransplant (requires patient not to be bed ridden and have good function) or donor based (harder to match up)
Fertility preservation and hematologic cancer patients
Goal to discuss fertility issues prior to starting treatment for cancer, sometimes treatment requirements do not allow time to collect ovum or sperm
WHO classification of the hematopoietic neoplasms
-Based on combo of morphology, immunophenotype, genetics, and clinical features
Acute vs chronic leukemia
- Acute usually means hospitalization and immediate treatment (IV chemo and transfusions), fast growing, post chemo complications more frequent and severe in acute dz
- Chronic usually means outpatient treatments and many treatment options use pills opposed to IV, slow growing,
Acute myelogenic leukemia (AML)
-80% of all acute leukemias, most frequent in neonates, result of proliferation of leukemic cells in myeloid line interfering with production of normal blood cells causing weakness, infecttion, and bleeding. Generally rapidly lethal unless treatment with intensive chemo or other targeted therapy
Environmental factors of acute myelogenic leukemia (AML) (3)
- exposure to high dose radiation
- retroviruses
- Tobacco use
Familial disorders as cause of AML (rare) (5)
- down syndrome
- bloom’s syndrome
- fanconi’s anemia
- aplastic anemia
- myeloproliferative disorder
Presenting symptoms of AML (4)
- fatigue (most common)
- fever (from infection)
- extramedullary disease
- leukemia cutis on skin
Auer rods
Lab abnormalities of AML present in 50% of cases, can also occur in myelodysplastic disease
AML treatment standard
7+ 3 regimen, (7 days of cytabine and 3 days of daunorubicin)
Pregnant patient with AL
If found during 1st trimester must immediately terminate pregnancy and start treatment, delay treatment in 2nd and 3rd trimester till post partum if possible using transfusions with induction of labor and delivery of viable fetus as soon as possible
Chemo is not used in patients over age of __ regardless of health status as it will worsen patient outcome
..80
Leukopheresis
Removal of excessive WBC from peripheral blood in AML treatment
CNS leukemia
Occurs rarely as side effect of AML, diagnosed via LP, cranial nerves III and VI affected most commonly
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)
A form of AML that is an emergency, occurs with presence of atypical promyelocytes in bone marrow and peripheral blood (have creased fold or dumbell nuclei), worrisome to avoid hemorrhage from characteristic coagulopathy (pulmonary or cerebrovascular hemorrhage) (mean survival <1 month if left untreated)
APL treatment (2)
- All trans retinoic acid (ATRA)
- 7+3 regimen (as a baseline in suspected APL)
Differentiation syndrome (cytokine storm)
Occurs in 25% of APL patients within days of starting ATRA + chemo regimen characterized by fever, peripheral edema, pulmonary infiltrates, hypoxemia, respiratory distress, hypotension, etc.
Differentiation syndrome (cytokine storm) treatment (1)
-Dexamethasone for 3 or more days