Specific Therapy for Leukemias
Tariq I Mughal, John M Goldman, Sabena T Mughal in Understanding Leukemias, Lymphomas, and Myelomas, 2017
This chapter discusses the subtype, acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is generally considered to be one of the most curable subtypes. Cytarabine works by preventing leukemia cells from making DNA. Since all leukemia cells do not divide at the same time, vincristine is given weekly in the hope that eventually all the cells will be affected. The validity of such an approach remains unclear but most specialists are of the opinion that long-term multidrug exposure may aid in destroying the residual leukemia cells or assist in apoptosis. Most patients receive one or two cycles of induction therapy and then receive post-remission therapy which often includes a cycle of anthracycline and cytarabine for five days followed by two to four cycles of high-dose cytarabine. Many patients may not require any specific therapy since this would not prolong survival, though over 50% of all patients with early-stage Chronic lymphocytic leukemia do eventually progress and require treatment.
What happens in Leukemias, Lymphomas, and Myelomas?
Tariq I Mughal, John M Goldman, Sabena T Mughal in Understanding Leukemias, Lymphomas, and Myelomas, 2017
The leukemias are a group of disorders characterized by the excessive accumulation of abnormal white cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. The lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of cancers that originate in lymphoid cells in lymph nodes or other lymphoid tissue. The common feature of these tumors was that the component cells all seemed to be derived from the lymphatic system. Lymphomas, in particular Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in contrast to leukemia are considerably more common worldwide. Multiple myeloma is a cancer which arises from the plasma cells in the bone marrow and is characterized by the production of a single species of immunoglobulin molecule. The different subtypes of myeloma were not recognized until the 1930s, when electrophoresis was discovered. In tandem with the leukemias and lymphomas, much of the molecular understanding of myeloma has been achieved. Amongst the leukemias, perhaps up to 5% may arise from inherited abnormal genes.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Epidemiological, Familial, and Genetic Aspects
Bruce D. Cheson in Chronic Lymphoid Leukemias, 2001
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a rare neoplasm that comprises a substantial pro portion of all leukemia in middle-aged persons and is the most common type among elderly persons in western populations. The major causes are not known nor is there de tailed understanding about how the elusive origin(s) may relate to clinical expression, basic biological mechanisms, or pathogenesis. Nevertheless, a growing body of data exists on demographic patterns, international variation, and etiology as described in earlier re views (1-9). Also, with the advent of rapid developments in molecular biology, informa tion is increasing on the molecular aspects of CLL. This chapter will emphasize more recent epidemiology work, particularly for familial and genetic aspects of CLL.
Megakaryoblastic Leukemia and Down's Syndrome: A Review
Published in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 1987
Alvin Zipursky, Marie Peeters, Annette Poon
Megakaryoblastic leukemia and transient leukemia in Down's syndrome have been reviewed using case reports from the literature and our own experience at the Hospital for Sick Children. The following conclusions have been reached: (1) approximately 20% of leukemia (excluding transient leukemia) in Down's syndrome is acute megakaryoblastic leukemia; (2) approximately 20% of all leukemia in Down's syndrome is transient leukemia; (3) transient leukemia in Down's syndrome is acute megakaryoblastic leukemia; (4) recurrence of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia occurs in 20% of the cases of transient leukemia; and (5) the incidence of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in Down's syndrome is estimated to be 400 times that in normal children. These observations suggest that a specific form of leukemia, namely acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, has a remarkable association with Down's syndrome.
A retrospective study of leukemia epidemiology in Northern Tunisia
Published in Hematology, 2011
Houda Haouas, Samira Haouas, Aïcha Hafsia
A hospital-based epidemiological study of leukemia was carried out in the northern part of Tunisia during a 5-year period, from 1999 to 2003. Of 402 Tunisians diagnosed with leukemia, 344 (85·6%) had acute leukemia and 58 (14·4%) had chronic leukemia. Age-specific incidence rates for acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are described. The distribution of leukemia in the governorate of Nabeul was established. These results are useful for the organization and follow-up of medical care.
Pediatric Acute Blastic Natural Killer Cell Leukemia
Published in Leukemia & Lymphoma, 2002
Steven G. DuBois, Joan E. Etzell, Katherine K. Matthay, Elizabeth Robbins, Anuradha Banerjee
The goal of this report is to describe a rare case of pediatric blastic natural killer (NK) cell leukemia and to compare pediatric blastic NK cell leukemia/lymphoma to other reported cases of pediatric NK cell leukemia. The patient, a 9-year-old girl, presented with acute leukemia with a phenotype similar to adult blastic NK cell leukemia/lymphoma. The blasts were agranular and expressed CD7, 45, 56, and HLA-DR, but not CD3, 11c, 13, 33, or TdT. She had a complete response to ALL-directed chemotherapy, but had multiple relapses involving the cerebrospinal fluid, nasal sinus, lymph node and skin. In addition to the reported case, a review of the literature identified 9 previously reported cases of NK cell leukemia in patients 18 years of age or less. Cases were subdivided into blastic, acute/aggressive, and myeloid precursor NK cell leukemia based upon CD13/33 expression and morphologic characteristics. Compared to pediatric acute/aggressive NK cell leukemia, children with blastic NK cell leukemia showed greater variation in age and race. Prognosis was poor for all groups. Pediatric blastic NK cell leukemia is a distinct clinicopathologic entity which differs from other types of pediatric NK cell leukemia.
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