Leukemias Flashcards
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) definition
MAlignancy that causes hematopoietic progenitor cells to lose their ability to mature normally and differentiate
cells proliferate in uncontrolled fashion and ultimately replace normal bone marrow leading to decreased production of normal RBC, WBC, and platelets
Incidence/predisposing factors
- no clear cause, greater incidence with benzene and petroleum product exposure
- more common in European descent
- cause of 80% of childhood cancers, peak age 3-7 years, and 20% of adult cancers peak age 60
- most common cancer and leading cause of death in children under 15
- survivors of ALL at risk for late sequelae of secondary brain tumors
- childhood survivors at greater risk for reduced growth, learning disabilities, and osteoporotic fxs later in life
S&S of ALL
sudden onset of acute illness for days or weeks, fever, anorexia, fatigue, bone/joint pain, sob, gum hypertrophy and bleeding, nose bleeds, chest pain, pale, purpura, petechiae, lymphadenopathy, stomatitis, hepatosplenomegaly, bone tenderness ESPECIALLY sternum and tibia
lab hallmark of ALL
pancytopenia with circulating blasts, blast cells on 90 % of smears
Bone marrow in ALL
usually hypercellular, diagnosis requires that more than 30% of cells are blasts,
ALL blood work
decrease in RBCs, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets, elevated urea (azotemia), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase present in 95% of cases
test needed confirm ALL diagnosis
bone marrow biopsy
cytogenic studies for ALL
- Hyperdiploid states: more favorable prognosis
- Philadelphia (pH) chromosome t(9,22) and (4/11): unfavorable prognosis
Bone marrow stains for ALL (4)
Periodic acid sschiff: positive
Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase: Positive
Sudan black: negative
Myeloperoxidase: negative
Tests to consider for ALL
chromosome analysis, multiparametric flow cytometry (relapse prediction), molecular genetic studies, lumbar puncture
Manamagent for ALL
- hematology/oncolgy consult
- supportive tx or eradication of mass
- stem cell transplant is goal (cures not common except in children
ALL survival rates
25% remain disease free, 5 year survival w/o aggressive tx
35-40% remain disease free, 5 year survival with aggressive tx
supportive care for ph positive ALL patients
- tyrosine kinase inhibitor will be induction therapy:
- transfusion of RBCs and platelets
- hydration
- aggressive antibiotic therapy for infection
- allopurinol to prevent renal damage and hyperuricemia BEFORE chemo
- acetazolamide to make urine alkaline
Before chemo what do you for uremic ALL patients
start dialysis
Chemotherapy phases for ALL
Divide into 3 phases:
Remission Induction
Post remission therapy consolidation
CNS prophylaxis
Remission induction therapy for ALL
- Initial tx: combo chemo and TKI if ph positive or clinical trial
- TKIs: *vincristine, prednisone, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dexamethasone, cytarabine, methotrexate, imatinib, dasatinib
- intrathecal methotrexate with 1 asparaginase in ; intrathecal methotrexate + cytarabine + corticosteroids
- maintenance therapy is 6 mercaptopurine and methotrexate
Post remission ALL
- Short courses of further chemo given
- daily 6-mercaptopurine, weekly methotrexate, TKIs in Ph positive patients with nelarabine preferred in refractory t cell ALL
CNS prophylaxis in ALL
intrathecal methotrexate alone or in combination with radiation
**CNS relapse much higher in ALL than AML
When to consider bone marrow transplant for ALL
at time of 1st relapse or 2nd remission
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) definition
- malignancy of hematopoietic progenitor cells
- similar to AML, but distinguished by morphologic examination and cytochemistry that differentiates myeloblasts from lymphoblasts
Classifications of AML (4)
- AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities
- AML with multilineage dysplasia
- Therapy related AML
- AML not otherwise categorized
Bone marrow or peripheral blood blast % needed to diagnosis AML
20%
Incidence/predisposing factors
- no clear cause
- increased incidence in patients with chromosomal abnormalities, especially Down syndrome
- Predominant type of acute leukemia in adults: 80% in adults over 20
- incidence increases with age: median 67 years old
- increased incidence of DIC
S&S of AML
bleeding, SOB, bruising, fever, anorexia, weight loss, HA, bone and joint pain, bone tenderness (sternum and tibia), exposure to petrochemicals and/or ionizing radiation, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, stomatitis, gingival hypertrophy, purpura, petechiae, overt bleeding, infection
labs in AML
- pancytopenia, anemia,
- low RBCs, hgb, hct, and platelets
- mild thrombocytopenia
- granules in blast cells
- Auer rods
- Myeloblasts
- butyrate esterase
Why are AML patients prone to DIC
elevated PT, PTT, fibrin degredation products, and d dimer, decreased fibrinogen