Neoplasia/Hematology - Mechanisms of Disease - Acute Leukemias; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; CML; Myeloproliferative Diseases Flashcards
Acute leukemias can be thought of as disorders characterized by a block in leukocyte _____________.
Acute leukemias can be thought of as disorders characterized by a block in leukocyte differentiation.
Chronic leukemias can be thought of as disordered/increased leukocyte ____________.
Chronic leukemias can be thought of as disordered/increased leukocyte proliferation.
How could you easily differentiate between an acute and a chronic leukemia via a review of the peripheral blood smear?
Presence of >20% blasts = acute leukemia
AML is mostly a disease of what median age group?
Median: 67 years of age
True/False.
AML is typically characterized by concurrent leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, and variable erythrocyte levels.
False.
AML is typically characterized by pancytopenia with elevated blasts.
Is splenomegaly typically seen in AML or CML or both?
CML
True/False.
Splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy are somewhat unusual in most types of AML.
True.
The pancytopenia seen in AML means that patients may present with what sort of S/Sy?
Pallor/fatigue/SoB (anemia);
infection (leukopenia);
bleeding (thrombocytopenia)
Why is AML characterized by pancytopenia?
Bone marrow infiltration by immature (clonal) malignant cells.
The peripheral blood in AML usually shows a high number of what?
Blasts (>20%)
The bone marrow in AML is almost always ______cellular.
The bone marrow in AML is almost always hypercellular (filled with blasts).
True/False.
If you do not see Auer rods on peripheral smear, it is not AML.
False.
Auer rods are pathognomonic for AML; however, their absence does not rule out AML.
In most instances, blasts need to comprise at least ___% of white blood cells in the peripheral blood or at least ___% of bone marrow aspirate cellularity to make a diagnosis of AML.
In most instances, blasts need to comprise at least 20% of white blood cells in the peripheral blood or at least 20% of bone marrow aspirate cellularity to make a diagnosis of AML.
Patients with AML typically require what in addition to their chemotherapy?
Antibiotics + transfusions
(for leukopenia and thrombocytopenia)
Chemotherapy for AML, the mainstay of therapy, is divided into what two phases?
- An early induction phase (to establish remission)
- A later consolidation phase (to maintain remission)
What can be used in AML treatment either as consolidation or if the disease relapses?
Bone marrow transplantation (autologous or allogeneic)
AMLs with t(8;21), t(16;16), or t(15;17) have a(n) _________ prognosis.
AMLs with t(9:11) have a(n) _________ prognosis.
AMLs with no translocations have a(n) _________ prognosis.
AMLs with t(8;21), t(16;16), or t(15;17) have a good prognosis.
AMLs with t(9:11) have an intermediate prognosis.
AMLs with no translocations have a poor prognosis.
True/False.
The overall long-term survival of patients diagnosed with AML is only ~25-30%.
True.
What medication makes up an especially major portion of AML treatment?
Cytarabine
Describe the WHO classification of AML:
- AML with recurrent ________ abnormalities
- AML with ________-related changes
- Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms
- AML, not otherwise specified.
Describe the WHO classification of AML:
- AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities
- AML with myelodysplasia-related changes
- Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms
- AML, not otherwise specified.
Describe the WHO classification of AML:
- AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities
- AML with myelodysplasia-related changes
- ________-related myeloid neoplasms
- AML, not otherwise ________.
Describe the WHO classification of AML:
- AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities
- AML with myelodysplasia-related changes
- Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms
- AML, not otherwise specified.
Which form of AML is susceptible to treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (tretinoin)?
Acute promyelocytic leukemia
(AML subtype M3 in FAB classification)
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is almost always characterized by a t(15;17) translocation, resulting in fusion of what genes?
RARA-PML fusion protein from RARA and PML genes
(Retinoic acid receptor-alpha; promyelocytic leukemia)
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is almost always characterized by production of the RARA-PML fusion protein. This results from translocation of what chromosomes?
t(15;17)
What is commonly seen within the blasts seen in a peripheral smear of a patient with AML?
What is overly expressed in these cells to produce this finding?
Auer rods;
myeloperoxidase
What does the RARA-PML fusion protein of acute promyelocytic leukemia do?
Inhibits differentiation
(acts as a DNA regulator)
What is the most common leukemia seen in children?
ALL
ALL is most commonly seen in what populations?
Children;
the elderly
(peaks at <6 years and >60 years)
What are the two main subtypes of ALL?
- B-cell ALL
- T-cell ALL
Clinically, patients with ALL present identically to patients with ____ except that splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy are more common.
Clinically, patients with ALL present identically to patients with AML except that splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy are more common.
Patients with ALL present clinically identical to patients with AML except that ___________ and ___________ are more common.
Patients with ALL present clinically identical to patients with AML except that splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy are more common.
Which form of ALL is much more likely to present with anterior mediastinal masses?
T-cell ALL
True/False.
B-ALL is typically a disease of the peripheral blood +/- bone marrow blood +/- extramedullary sites: CNS, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and testis.
False.
Typically a disease of the bone marrow +/- peripheral blood +/- extramedullary sites: CNS, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and testis.
What are the two main WHO categories of ALL?
Which is associated with a worse prognosis (answer bolded)?
- Non-specified
- Recurrent genetic abnormalities (t(9;22))
You note that a patient has an elevated number of blasts in their bone marrow and on peripheral smear. How do you differentiate whether these are myeloblasts or lymphoblasts?
Immunohistochemistry
and/or
flow cytometry
True/False.
Pediatric cases of either ALL or AML tend to be very treatable.
True.
True/False.
Adult cases of either ALL or AML tend to be very treatable.
False.
Much worse prognosis than pediatric cases.
ALL has a predilection for sanctuary sites such as the ____, making intra________ treatment necessary.
ALL has a predilection for sanctuary sites such as the CNS, making intrathecal treatment necessary.
ALL with a t(9;22) is associated with a ________ outcome.
ALL with a t(12;21) is associated with a ________ outcome.
ALL with a t(9;22) is associated with a poor outcome.
ALL with a t(12;21) is associated with a good outcome.
Identify which of the following are mutations relevant to evaluation/prognosis/treatment of AML:
NPM1
FLT3 ITD
FLT3 TKD
IDH1
IDH2
P53
C-Kit
All of them
NPM1
FLT3 ITD
FLT3 TKD
IDH1
IDH2
P53
C-Kit
__________ syndrome is a disorder of bone marrow stem cells in which the cells do not normally differentiate into mature cells.
Myelodysplastic syndrome is a disorder of bone marrow stem cells in which the cells do not normally differentiate into mature cells.
What syndrome is characterized by defective stem cell maturation in the bone marrow and an increased risk of AML development?
Myelodysplastic syndrome
___________ myelodysplastic syndrome follows such things as chemotherapy (especially alkylating agents), radiation exposure, benzene exposure, or Fanconi anemia.
Secondary myelodysplastic syndrome follows such things as chemotherapy (especially alkylating agents), radiation exposure, benzene exposure, or Fanconi anemia.
What is the median age for diagnosis with myelodysplastic syndrome?
70 years
Most cases of myelodysplastic syndrome are __________ but shorten the affected patient’s life in the long-run via an increase in risk of infection, bleeding, and AML.
Most cases of myelodysplastic syndrome are asymptomatic but shorten the affected patient’s life in the long-run via an increase in risk of infection, bleeding, and AML.
The bone marrow in myelodysplastic syndrome is usually ______cellular; but, due to changes in hematopoiesis, the cell counts are __________ in the peripheral blood.
The bone marrow in myelodysplastic syndrome is usually hypercellular; but, due to changes in hematopoiesis, the cell counts are decreased in the peripheral blood.
A 73 year old male presents with a megaloblastic anemia refractory to B12 and/or folate administration. Orotic acid levels are normal. Analysis of the bone marrow shows ringed sideroblasts and no increase in blasts.
What is the likely diagnosis?
Myelodysplastic syndrome
(specifically, refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS))
A 73 year old male presents with a megaloblastic anemia refractory to B12 and/or folate administration. Orotic acid levels are normal. Analysis of the bone marrow shows ringed sideroblasts and an increase in blasts.
You diagnose the patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (specifically, refractory anemia with elevated blasts (RAEB)).
Does this patient have an increased risk of AML development?
Yes (high-risk group).
What is the most common chromosomal abnormality seen in myelodsyplastic syndrome?
Trisomy 8
(also, monosomies of 5 or 7)
How is myelodysplastic syndrome typically treated?
Supportive care
(antibiotics and blood transfusions)
Myelodysplastic syndrome is characterized by ______cellular bone marrow that produce _______ cells.
Aplastic anemia is characterized by ______cellular bone marrow that produce _______ cells.
Myelodysplastic syndrome is characterized by hypercellular bone marrow that produce defective cells.
Aplastic anemia is characterized by hypocellular bone marrow that produce normal (albeit very few) cells.
________ syndrome is characterized by hypercellular bone marrow that produce defective cells.
________ anemia is characterized by hypocellular bone marrow that produce normal (albeit very few) cells.
Myelodysplastic syndrome is characterized by hypercellular bone marrow that produce defective cells.
Aplastic anemia is characterized by hypocellular bone marrow that produce normal (albeit very few) cells.
What myeloproliferative disorder mainly leads to an increase in erythrocytes?
Polycythemia vera