90 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Flashcards

1
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Most cases of ALL occur in children, but most deaths from ALL occur in adults.

A

TRUE

Most cases of ALL occur in children, but most deaths from ALL occur in adults.

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2
Q

Heritable cancer predisposition syndromes associated with increased ALL

A

Li Fraumeni syndrome with germline TP53 mutation

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3
Q

Approximately 61% of patients with ALL are diagnosed before the age of _________

A

20 years

Only 20% of adult acute leukemias are ALL, but about one-third of ALL cases are in adults

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4
Q

Almost all ALL patients with Down syndrome have a deletion of

A

IKZF1.31

Genetic abnormalities more commonly associated with Down syndrome, such as +X, del(9), and CEBPD rearrangement

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5
Q

Autosomal recessive genetic diseases associated with increased chromosomal fragility and a predisposition to ALL include:

A

Ataxia-telangiectasia
Nijmegen breakage syndrome
Bloom syndrome

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6
Q

These genes are key regulators of blood cell development, and acquired mutations of each are also detected in ALL cases

Consistently associated with childhood ALL

A

IKZF1, ARID5B, CEBPE, and CDKN2a

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7
Q

The hypothesis that suggests that some susceptible individuals with a prenatally acquired preleukemic clone had low or no exposure to common infections early in life because they lived in affluent hygienic environments.

Such infectious insulation predisposes the immune system of these individuals to aberrant or pathologic responses after subsequent or delayed exposure to common infections at an age commensurate with increased lymphoid cell proliferation.

A

“Delayed infection” hypothesis

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8
Q

The hypothesis that predicts that clusters of childhood ALL result from exposure of susceptible (nonimmune) individuals to common but fairly nonpathogenic infections after population mixing with carriers.

A

“Population-mixing” hypothesis

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9
Q

The most frequent genetic abnormality in ALL

A

Translocations

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10
Q

Most common genetic abberations in childhood

A

Hyperdiploidy

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11
Q

Most common genetic abberations in adults

A

t(9;22)(q34;q11.2) [BCR-ABL1]

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12
Q

Genetic abnormalities found in T-cell ALL

A

NOTCH1 mutations
HOX11L2 overexpression
LYL1 overexpression
TAL1 overexpression
HOX11 overexpression

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13
Q

Encodes a paired-domain protein required for the pro–B-cell to pre–B-cell transition and B-lineage fidelity

Most frequent target gene in ALL

A

PAX5

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14
Q

Second most frequently involved gene

Required for the earliest lymphoid differentiation

A

IKZF1

IKZF1 was deleted in the vast majority of cases of BCR-ABL1 ALL cases as well as chronic myeloid leukemia in lymphoid blast crisis (but not chronic phase).

Very poor outcome

Contributes to treatment resistance in ALL

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15
Q

Intracranial hemorrhage occurs mainly in patients with an initial leukocyte count greater than

A

400 × 109/L

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16
Q

Most common sites of extramedullary involvement, and the degree of organomegaly is more pronounced in children than in adults

A

Liver, spleen, and lymph nodes

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17
Q

Overt testicular disease can be readily diagnosed by

A

Ultrasonography

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18
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Overt testicular disease is relatively rare, is generally seen in adults with B-cell leukemia and/or hyperleukocytosis, and does require radiation therapy.

A

FALSE

Overt testicular disease is relatively rare, is generally seen in infants or adolescents with T-cell leukemia and/or hyperleukocytosis, and does not require radiation therapy.

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19
Q

Patients with hyperleukocytosis are more likely to have _______________ ALL

A

T-cell ALL

Hyperleukocytosis Occurs more often in black children (23%) and in adults (16%)

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20
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Hypereosinophilia, generally reactive, may precede the diagnosis of ALL by several months.

A

TRUE

Hypereosinophilia, generally reactive, may precede the diagnosis of ALL by several months.

Mostly male,
Have ALL with the t(5;14)(q31;q32) chromosomal abnormality and a hypereosinophilic syndrome (pulmonary infiltration, cardiomegaly, and congestive heart failure)

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21
Q

Coagulopathy, usually mild, can be seen in 3% to 5% of patients, most of whom have ____ ALL, and is only rarely associated with clinical bleeding

A

T-cell ALL

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22
Q

Characterized by intensely basophilic cytoplasm, prominent nucleoli, and cytoplasmic vacuolation

A

Burkitt-type ALL

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23
Q

Found in 0.5% of B-cell precursor ALL, is associated with adolescent age, disseminated coagulopathy, hypercalcemia, and dismal prognosis.

A

t(17;19)(q22;p13.3) with E2A-HLF fusion

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24
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an essential diagnostic procedure.
Leukemic blasts can be identified in as many as one-third of pediatric patients and approximately 5% of adult patients at diagnosis of ALL; most of these patients lack neurologic symptoms.

A

TRUE

Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an essential diagnostic procedure.
Leukemic blasts can be identified in as many as one-third of pediatric patients and approximately 5% of adult patients at diagnosis of ALL; most of these patients lack neurologic symptoms.

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25
Q

Are characterized by intensely basophilic cytoplasm, prominent nucleoli, and cytoplasmic vacuolation

A

B-cell blasts in Burkitt-type ALL

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26
Q

Typical panels include antibodies to at least one highly sensitive marker and antibodies to a highly specific marker

A

Highly sensitive markers:
CD19 for B-cell lineage
CD7 for Tcell lineage, and
CD13 or CD33 for myeloid cells

Highly specific markers:
cytoplasmic CD79a and CD22 for B-cell lineage,
cytoplasmic CD3 for T-cell lineage, and
cytoplasmic myeloperoxidase for myeloid cells

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27
Q

Immunologic Subtype of ALL

Infants and adult age group, high leukocyte count, initial CNS leukemia, pseudodiploidy, MLL rearrangement, unfavorable prognosis

A

Pro-B

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28
Q

Immunologic Subtype of ALL

Favorable age group (1–9 years), low leukocyte
count, hyperdiploidy (>50 chromosomes)

A

Early pre-B

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29
Q

Immunologic Subtype of ALL

High leukocyte count, black race, pseudodiploidy

A

Pre-B

30
Q

Immunologic Subtype of ALL

Male predominance, initial CNS leukemia, abdominal masses, often renal involvement

A

Mature B cell (Burkitt)

31
Q

Immunologic Subtype of ALL

Male predominance, hyperleukocytosis, extramedullary disease

A

T Cell

32
Q

Immunologic Subtype of ALL

Male predominance, hyperleukocytosis, extramedullary disease, unfavorable prognosis

A

Pre-T

33
Q

CD15, CD33, and CD65 are expressed in ALL cases with a rearranged ________ gene

A

MLL gene

The presence of myeloid-associated antigens lacks prognostic significance in contemporary treatment programs but can be useful in immunologic monitoring of patients for minimal residual leukemia.

34
Q

CD13 and CD33 are expressed in cases with the _________

A

ETV6-RUNX1

The presence of myeloid-associated antigens lacks prognostic significance in contemporary treatment programs but can be useful in immunologic monitoring of patients for minimal residual leukemia.

35
Q

Prognosis:

Hyperdiploidy (>50 chromosomes):
Hypodiploidy (≤44 chromosomes):

A

Hyperdiploidy (>50 chromosomes): favorable
Hypodiploidy (≤44 chromosomes): poor

Near haploidy (25–29 chromosomes) is restricted largely to young children;
Low hypodiploidy (33–39 chromosomes) is characterized by structural abnormalities and older age, and
High hypodiploidy (42–44 chromosomes) with complex karyotypes
Low-hypodiploid ALL is also associated with mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53

36
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Azoles should be avoided when vincristine is given.

A

TRUE

Azoles should be avoided when vincristine is given.

37
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

If mercaptopurine and allopurinol are given together orally, the dosage of mercaptopurine must be reduced.

A

TRUE

If mercaptopurine and allopurinol are given together orally, the dosage of mercaptopurine must be reduced.

38
Q

Extreme leukocytosis in ALL is defined as WBC >

A

> 400 × 109/L

39
Q

Management of hyperleukocytosis

A
  • Leukapheresis or exchange transfusion (in small children)
  • Glucocorticoids, with addition of vincristine and cyclophosphamide
40
Q

Alternative treatments for patients who cannot tolerate trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

A

Aerosolized pentamidine, dapsone, and atovaquone

41
Q

Childhood ALL cases are divided into

A
  • Standard-risk
  • High- (intermediate- or average-) risk
  • Very-high-risk

Adult cases are generally divided into 2 risk groups.

42
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Cranial irradiation does not appear to be necessary, even for patients presenting with CNS leukemia.

A

TRUE

Cranial irradiation does not appear to be necessary, even for patients presenting with CNS leukemia.

43
Q

Treatment for leukemias affecting the precursor B-cell and T-cell lineages consists of three standard phases:

A
  • Remission induction
  • Intensification (consolidation)
  • Prolonged continuation (maintenance)
44
Q

“Molecular” or “immunologic” remission, defined as leukemia less than

A

0.01% of nucleated marrow cells

45
Q

Steroid that provides better control of systemic and CNS disease

A

Dexamethasone

46
Q

Preparation and doses of asparaginase

A
  • Pegaspargase : 2500 IU/m2 IV or intramuscularly every other week for 1–2 doses
  • Calaspargase: 2500 U/m2 IV every 3–4 weeks
  • Erwinia preparation: 20,000 IU/m2 IV or intramuscularly three times per week for 6–12 doses
  • E coli L-asparaginase: 5000–10,000 IU/m2 IV or intramuscularly administered 2–3 times per week for 6–12 doses

Erwinia preparation, which has the shortest half-life

47
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

In terms of leukemic control, the dose intensity and duration of asparaginase treatment (ie, the amount of asparagine depletion) are far more important than the type of asparaginase used.

A

TRUE

In terms of leukemic control, the dose intensity and duration of asparaginase treatment (ie, the amount of asparagine depletion) are far more important than the type of asparaginase used.

48
Q

Considered as adolescents and young adults (AYA)

A

Ages of 16 and 39

49
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Several retrospective comparative analyses have reported that adolescents and young adults with ALL treated on pediatric protocols have had superior EFS and overall survival rates when compared with similar patients enrolled on adult ALL trials.

A

TRUE

Several retrospective comparative analyses have reported that adolescents and young adults with ALL treated on pediatric protocols have had superior EFS and overall survival rates when compared with similar patients enrolled on adult ALL trials.

50
Q

Continuation therapy for______ years is an integral part of pediatric and adult ALL regimens.

A

2–3 years

51
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Early studies demonstrated that the third year of continuation therapy benefits girls but not boys. Hence, most studies discontinue all therapy for boys after 2–2.5 years of treatment.

A

FALSE

Early studies demonstrated that the third year of continuation therapy benefits boys but not girls. Hence, most studies discontinue all therapy for girls after 2–2.5 years of treatment.

52
Q

Mercaptopurine is better when the drug is administered in the_________

A

Evening

Mercaptopurine should not be given with milk or milk products containing xanthine oxidase, which can degrade the drug.

53
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Antimetabolite treatment should be withheld because of isolated increases of liver enzymes because such liver function abnormalities are intolerable and irreversible.

A

FALSE

Antimetabolite treatment should not be withheld because of isolated increases of liver enzymes because such liver function abnormalities are tolerable and reversible.

54
Q

Thioguanine produced superior antileukemic responses to mercaptopurine but was associated with:

A

Profound thrombocytopenia
An increased risk of death, and
An unacceptable rate of hepatic venoocclusive disease

Mercaptopurine remains the drug of choice for ALL

55
Q

Therapy of the Central Nervous System

A
  • Triple intrathecal therapy with methotrexate, cytarabine, and hydrocortisone
  • Systemic high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine
56
Q

Treatment of CNS relapse

A
  • Cranial irradiation
  • Intrathecal chemotherapy (typically via an Ommaya shunt)
    Plus reinduction and reconsolidation systemic therapy

Survival after CNS relapse is usually less than one year in adults.

57
Q

Cases where hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is reccomended

A
  • Philadelphia chromosome–positive ALL
  • Those with a poor initial response to induction therapy
  • Ph-like ALL and early T-precursor phenotype
  • Adults with the t(4;11)
58
Q

Treatment for Philadelphia chromosome–positive ALL

A

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, or ponatinib)

In combination with steroids or chemotherapy

In combination with chemotherapy, they induce not only a higher complete remission rate but also a high rate of molecular remission in children and adults

It is uncertain whether and when to discontinue imatinib or dasatinib after the patient is treated with chemotherapy or transplantation.

59
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Surface expression of CD20 by leukemia cells is associated with an inferior outcome in adult, but not childhood, ALL.

A

TRUE

Surface expression of CD20 by leukemia cells is associated with an inferior outcome in adult, but not childhood, ALL.

Chemotherapy trials incorporating rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, have yielded promising results in adults with CD20+ B-cell precursor ALL.

60
Q

A bispecific T-cell engaging (BiTE) monoclonal antibody that binds both CD3+ T cells and CD19+ ALL cells and has been approved for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.

A

Blinatumomab

61
Q

An anti-CD22 antibody conjugated to calicheamicin that has yielded better outcomes in patients with relapsed or refractory ALL than standard chemotherapy.

A

Inotuzumab ozogamicin

62
Q

A soluble pro-drug of 9-β-D-arabinofuranosylguanine (ara-G), a deoxyguanosine derivative. shown considerable activity in T-cell ALL, both alone and in combination with other chemotherapy

A

Nelarabine

63
Q

The most common site of relapse in ALL

A

Marrow

Although some individuals can be rescued with additional chemotherapy alone, in general, only allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation offers a reasonable chance for cure and long-term survival.

64
Q

Factors indicating an especially poor prognosis

A
  • Relapse while on therapy or after a short initial remission
  • T-cell immunophenotype
  • The presence of the Philadelphia chromosome or Ph-like ALL
  • Isolated hematologic relapse
65
Q

Most deaths are caused by

A

Bacterial or fungal infections

66
Q

Late sequelae of cranial irradiation

A

Second cancer, neurocognitive deficits, and endocrine abnormalities

The most devastating complication is the development of brain tumors and therapy-related myeloid leukemia.

67
Q

Used for risk classification in almost every pediatric clinical trial involving precursor B-cell ALL.

A

Age and leukocyte count

Age younger than 35 years and leukocyte count less than 30 × 109/L are considered favorable prognostic indicators

In general, age younger than 60 years is considered a practical guide for selecting candidates who might benefit from intensive therapy, including allogeneic transplantation.

68
Q

Adverse Prognostic Factors in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

A
69
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Male sex has long been recognized as an adverse prognostic factor in childhood ALL but has less influence in adult ALL.

A

TRUE

Male sex has long been recognized as an adverse prognostic factor in childhood ALL but has less influence in adult ALL.

70
Q

The most important prognostic factor

A

Measurement of MRD