Acute leukemias are malignant disorders of hematopoietic tissues characterized by increased white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood. They are classified as either acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) based on the affected cell lineage. Treatment involves chemotherapy to induce remission through combination regimens, with the goals of restoring normal hematopoiesis and preventing relapse through additional consolidation therapy and long-term maintenance treatment. Prognosis depends on several risk factors like age, subtype, initial response to treatment, and specific genetic abnormalities.

1. ACUTE
LEUKEMIA
Suraj Dhara
(Midnapore Medical College)

2. Leukemia
Group of malignant disorders of the
hematopoietic tissues characteristically
associated with increased numbers of white
cells in the bone marrow and / or peripheral
blood

3. Classification
• Classified based on cell type involved and
the clinical course
– Acute :
• ALL
• AML
– Chronic :
• CLL
• CML

4. Acute Leukemias
• Acute leukemias are clonal malignant hematopoietic
disorders resulting from genetic alterations in normal
hematopoietic stem cells.
• These alterations disrupt normal differentiation and/or
cause excessive proliferation of abnormal immature
“leukemic” cells or “blasts.”
• As the disease progresses, leukemic cells accumulate in
the bone marrow, blood, and organs, displacing normal
progenitor cells and suppressing normal hematopoiesis

5. Acute Leukemia - Essentials
• Short course of symptoms
• Fatigue, fever, easy bruising, bleeding
• Cytopenias - or pancytopenia
• More than 20% blasts in bone marrow
• Blasts in peripheral blood in 90% cases

6. AL - EPIDEMIOLOGY
• The frequency of AL varies between 1 and 6,5
cases to 100.000 population each year. The
frequency of AL varies with subtype and age.
• AL represents 10% of the neoplastic diseases and
is the principal cause of neoplastic for ages 0-35
years.

7. ALL - Epidemiology
• Approximately 3,000 new cases per year
• Mostly affects childrenchildren, accounts for 2/3 of childhood
leukemia (peak age 4 yearspeak age 4 years)
• Comprises less than 20% of leukemia in young adults
• May be B-cell, T-cell, or null-type (non-B, non-T cell)
•Only 20-40% of adults with ALL are cured with current
regimens.

8. AML - Epidemiology
• 2.3 per 100,000 people per year
• Higher among men than women (2.9 vs 1.9). The
difference is even more apparent in older patients.
• Most common leukemia in adults (80% of cases)
• Vast majority of patients 65 years or older65 years or older
• AML is more common in whites than in other
populations.

9. ALL - Etiology
• Uncertain, but several proposed linkages:
· Genetic - Philadelphia chromosome
· Viral infection (EBV, HIV)
· Exposure to high energy radiation (T-cell ALL)
· Toxic chemical exposure
· Smoking

10. AML - Etiology
• Primary AML
– Increased incidence
• Genetic fragility
– Bloom syndrome
– Faconi anemia
– Wiskott Aldrich
– Down, Klinefelter, Patau syndromes
• tobacco use?
• herbicides?, pesticides?
• benzene exposure
• Secondary AML
– XRT
– Topoisomerase II inhibitors (e.g etopisode), alkylating agents
– MDS
– other cell proliferation disorders
• CML, polycythemia vera, primary thrombocytosis, PNH

11. Clinical features
General :
Onset is abrupt & stormy
(usually present within 3 months)
– Bone marrow failure
(anemia, infection ,bleeding)
– Bone pain & tenderness

12. Clinical presentation:
• Will present with sign or symptoms related to :
– Pancytopenia:
∀↓WBC→infection  infectious syndrome
∀↓Hb →anemia  anemic syndrome
∀↓Platelets →bleeding – hemorragic syndrome
– Organ infiltration  tumoral syndrome
• Lymphadenopathy.
• Splenomegally.
• Hepatomegally.
• CNS:5-10% of patient with ALL
More common with ALL than AML.

13. Clinical features - specials
• L mediastinal tumoral mass
• L CNS infiltration
• M2 : Chloroma:-presents as a mass lesion ‘tumor
of leukemic cells’
• M3 : DIC
• M4/M5 : Infiltration of soft tissues,
gum infiltration, skin deposits
,Meningeal involvement-headache, vomiting, eye
symptoms

14. Gingival Infiltration in Monocytic
(AML M4 eos) Variant of AML

15. Gum hypertrophy

16. A
B
C
Chloromas
NEJM 1998

17. Clinical symptoms/Physical
Findings
• Extramedullary disease (ie, myeloid sarcoma)
– Can also have involvement of lymph nodes, intestine,
mediastinum, ovaries, uterus

18. Clinical features - specials

19. Skin Infiltration with AML (Leukemia Cutis)

20. Leukostasis
• Leukostasis – predominantly in those with WBC counts
> 100,000 (10% of patients); can also be seen in patients
with WBC > 50,000
– Most common in those with M4 or M5 leukemia
– Function of the blast cells being less deformable than mature
myeloid cells. As a result, intravascular plugs develop.
– High metabolic activity of blast cells and local production of
various cytokines contribute to underlying hypoxia

21. Leukostasis
Thornton, KA, Levis, M. FLT3 Mutation and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with Leukostasis. N Engl J Med 2007; 357:1639. Copyright
©2007 Massachusetts Medical Society

22. Leukostasis
• Common symptoms
– Pulmonary: dyspnea, chest pain
– CNS: headaches, altered mentation, CN palsies,
ocular symptoms
– Priapism
– Myocardial Infarction

23. Acute leukemia - Diagnosis
–Lab evaluation
•The lab diagnosis is based on two things
–Finding a significant increase in the number of immature
cells in the bone marrow including blasts, promyelocytes,
promonocytes (>30% blasts is diagnostic)
–Identification of the cell lineage of the leukemic cells

24. Investigations
• CBC:
– 60% of pts have an elevated WBC.
– Most are anemic
– Most are thrombocytopenic
– 90%have blast in the periphral blood film.
• electrolytes:
– Hypo/hyper kalemia
– Hypomagnesimia
– hyperphosphatemia
• Hypermetabolism:
↑LDH.
↑uric acid.
• DIC:
– Most common with promyelocytic leukemia,small% monocytic leukemia&ALL
• Bone marrow biopsy and aspirate:
– 30%or more of all nucleated cells are blast.
• Radiology:
– CXR:mediastinal mass(T-cell ALL)
– Osteopenia or lytic lesion 50% of patients with ALL.(itractable pain).

25. Acute leukemia - Diagnosis
– Peripheral blood:
• Anemia (normochromic, normocytic)
• Decreased platlets
• Variable WBC count
– The degree of peripheral blood involvement determines classification:
»Leukemic – increased WBCs due to blasts
»Subleukemic – blasts without increased WBCs
»Aleukemic – decreased WBCs with no blasts

26. Acute Leukemias - CBC
• Hb – 5,6 g/dl
• Plt – 15.000/mmc
• WBC – 34.000/mmc
– PN – 10%
– L - 6%
– M – 3%
– Bl – 81%
• Hb – 3,5 g/dl
• Plt – 5.000/mmc
• WBC – 1.500/mmc
– PN - 15%
– L – 80%
– M – 5%

27. Acute leukemia - Diagnosis
• Bone marrow aspirate & trephine:
Hypercellular,
– blast cells ( > 20%),,
– presence of Auer rods - AML type
• Cytochemistry :
Special stains to differentiate AML from ALL ;
Positivity
with Sudan black & Myeloperoxidase (MPO) in
AML

28. Jemshidi trephine &
Salah aspiration needle

29. Acute leukemia - Diagnosis
• Diagnosis and classification of
the immature cells involved may
be done by :
–Morphology
–Cytochemistry
–Immunophenotyping
–Cytogenetic

30. Classification
• Criteria:
- Morphology :apperance of cell under microscope.
- Cytochemistry:chemical activity of the cell.
(myeloperoxidase , Sudan Black B)
- immunophenotyping: antigen pressent in the cell membrane
- Cytogenetics: chromosome of the cell
- Molecular biology:
• Classification:
3 groups of acute leukemias:
- acute myeloid leukemias AML(M1 –M6).
- acute lymphoblastic leukemias ALL (L1-L3).
- Biphenotypic leukemias or Acute undifferentiated
leukemia

31. Diagnosis
• Morphologic
– French American British Classification
• L1: small uniform blasts (pediatric ALL)
• L2: larger, more variable sized blasts (adult ALL)
• L3: uniform cells with basophilic and sometimes
vacuolated cytoplasm (mature B cell ALL)

32. L1 - 85% of childhood ALL
L2 - Majority of adult ALL
L3 - Includes Burkitt’s. < 5% of ALL
Immunologic Subtype FAB Type %of Cases Cytogenetic Abnl
Pre-B cell ALL L1, L2 75 t(9:22) t(4:11) t(1:19)
T-cell ALL L1, L2 20 14q11 or 7q34
B-cell ALL L3 5 t(8:14) t(8:22) t(2:8)
Classification of ALL

33. ALL – L1/periferal blood smear

34. ALL – L2/periferal blood smear

35. ALL3/bone marrow smear

36. FAB Classification of AML
• M0 undifferentiated acute myeloblastic leukemia (5%)
• M1 AML with minimal maturation (20%)
• M2 AML with maturation (30%)
– t(8;21)
• M3 Acute promyelocytic leukemia (5%)
– t(15;17)
• M4 Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (20%)
• M4 eos Acute myelomonocytic leukemia with eosinophilia (5%)
– inv (16)
• M5 Acute monocytic leukemia (10%)
– t(9;11)
• M6 Acute erythroid leukemia (3%)
• M7 Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (3%)

37. WHO Classification
• AML with certain genetic abnormalities
– t(8;21), t(16), inv(16), chromosome 11 changes
– t(15;17) as usually seen with AML M3
• AML with multilineage dysplasia (more than one abnormal myeloid cell type is
involved)
• AML related to previous chemotherapy or radiation
• AML not otherwise specified
– undifferentiated AML (M0)
– AML with minimal maturation (M1)
– AML with maturation (M2)
– acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4)
– acute monocytic leukemia (M5)
– acute erythroid leukemia (M6)
– acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (M7)
– acute basophilic leukemia
– acute panmyelosis with fibrosis
– myeloid sarcoma (also known as granulocytic sarcoma or chloroma)
• Undifferentiated or biphenotypic acute leukemias (leukemias that have both
lymphocytic and myeloid features. Sometimes called ALL with myeloid markers, AML
with lymphoid markers, or mixed lineage leukemias.)

38. AML2 – bone marrow smear

39. AML3 – bone marrow smear

40. Prognosis in ALL
parametersparameters GoodGood poorpoor
WBC lowlow High(>50x10High(>50x10 99
/l)/l)
Gender GirlsGirls BoysBoys
Immunophenotype C-ALLC-ALL B-ALLB-ALL
Age ChildChild Adult or infant.Adult or infant.
Cytogenetic Normal,hyperdiploid,Normal,hyperdiploid, Ph+,11q23rearrangemePh+,11q23rearrangeme
nts.nts.
Time to clear blast from
blood
< 1week< 1week >1week>1week
Time to remission <4weeks<4weeks >4weeks>4weeks
Cns disease at
presentation
AbsentAbsent PresentPresent
Minimal residual
disease.
Negative at 1-3 monthsNegative at 1-3 months Still positive at 3-6Still positive at 3-6
months.months.

41. Prognosis in ALL
• Good risk includes
– (1) no adverse cytogenetics,
– (2) age younger than 30 years
– (3) WBC count of less than 30,000/mL, and
– (4) complete remission within 4 weeks.
• Intermediate risk
– does not meet the criteria for either good risk or poor risk.
• Poor risk includes
– (1) adverse cytogenetics [(t9;22), (4;11)],
– (2) age older than 60 years,
– (3) precursor B-cell WBCs with WBC count greater than
100,000/mL, or
– (4) failure to achieve complete remission within 4 weeks.

42. Prognosis in AML
Prognostic Factors:
• Age at diagnosis
• Comorbidities (acute vs chronic)
• Chromosomal findings
• Symptomatic interval preceding diagnosis
• Presenting Leukocyte count
• Circulating myeloblast count
• FAB classification
• Morphologic characteristics of the leukemic cell

43. Treatment of acute leukemias
Choice of Rx is influenced by:
• type (AML vs ALL)
• age
• curative vs palliative intent

44. Principles of treatment
• combination chemotherapy
– first goal is complete remission
– further Rx to prevent relapse
• supportive medical care
– transfusions, antibiotics, nutrition
• psychosocial support
– patient and family

45. Supportive measures:
-isolation in positive laminer flux room
-insertion of central line
-family and patient support by permanent social worker
-Alkaline diuresis to prevent tumor lysis syndrome
-oropharynx/GIT decontamination to prevent fungal infection
-IV antibiotics for infection
-Blood transfusion if anemia and thrombocytopenia.

47. Chemotherapy for acute
leukemias
• Phases of ALL treatment
– induction
– intensification
– CNS prophylaxis
– maintenance
• Phases of AML treatment
– induction
– consolidation (post-remission therapy)
post-remission therapy

48. ALL Treatment
• 1 – Remission Induction
• 2 – Intensification (Consolidation) Therapy
• 3 – Maintenance Therapy
• 4 – CNS Prophylaxis
• 5 – Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

49. ALL Treatment
• Remission Induction
– Goals: restore normal hematopoiesis, induce a complete
remission rapidly in order to prevent resistance to drugs
– Standard induction regimen
• 4 or 5 drugs: vincristine, prednisone, anthracycline, L-asparaginase, +/-
cyclophosphamide
– 80-90% complete remission
• Intensification
– High doses of multiple agents not used during induction or re-
administration of the induction regimen

50. ALL Treatment
• Maintenance Therapy
– Daily po 6MP, weekly MTX, monthly pulses of vincristine
and prednisone for 2-3 yrs
• CNS Prophylaxis
– Given during induction and intensification
– Intrathecal: MTX, Cytarabine, corticosteroids
– Systemic: high dose mtx, cytarabine, L-asparaginase
– +/- Cranial Irradiation

51. ALL Treatment
• Stem Cell Transplant
– Done during first CR
– Indications:
• Ph Chromosome
• t(4;11) mutation
• Poor initial response to induction therapy
• Other
– Adolescents benefit significantly from pediatric ALL
regimens vs. adult regimens

52. AML Treatment
• Remission induction therapy
– Commonly anthracycline (ie, daunorubicin, idarubicin) and cytarabine
→ (“3+7 regimen”)
• Cytarabine has ample CNS penetration so no need for prophylactic
intrathecal chemotx (also, ↓ risk in patients with AML compared to ALL)
• 60-80% achieve complete remission
• Postremission therapy
1. Consolidation
– longer survival than maintence alone
– typically high dose cytarabine
1. Maintenance – continue chemotx monthly for 4-12 months
– nonmyelosuppressive doses

53. COMPLICATIONS TREATMENT

54. Tumor Lysis Syndrome
• Characterized by metabolic derangements caused
by massive release of cellular components
following lysis of malignant cells
• Commonly seen in malignancies with high rates
of cell proliferation (esp. ALL, Burkitt’s
lymphoma); also can be seen with AML

55. Tumor Lysis Syndrome
• Tumor lysis syndrome - hyperphosphatemia,
hyperkalemia, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia and uremia
– Retrospective study of 788 patients (433 adults) found
incidence of hyperuricemia and TLS to be 14.7%/3.4% in
patients with AML compared to 21.4%/5.2% in patients with
ALL and 19.6%/6.1% in patients with NHL
• Electrolyte abnormalities can occur without the entire
spectrum of TLS or even before tx is initiated
– Hyperuricemia
– Lactic acidosis

56. Tumor Lysis Syndrome
• Release of intracellular proteins →catobilized to hypoxanthine →
xanthine → uric acid → Crystalization of uric acid and in renal
tubules → impaired renal function
• Release of phosphate from malignant cells → calcium phosphate
precipitation and further renal impairment along with
hypocalcemia and resultant symptoms from ↓Ca
– Hyperphosphatemia: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, lethargy
– Hypocalcemia: arrhythmia, hypotension, tetany, cramps
– Hyperkalemia: arrhythmia, cramps, paresthesia

57. Tumor Lysis Syndrome
• Prevention and management
– IV hydration : promotes excretion of uric acid and phosphate; improves renal blood
flow/GFR
– Allopurinol → competitive inhibitor for xanthine oxidase. Therefore, ↓ conversion of
purine metabolites to uric acid
• However, must consider buildup of xanthine crystals → acute obstructive uropathy
(HYDRATE!!!)
– Recominant urate oxidase (rasburicase)
• Promotes conversion of uric acid to allantoin (highly soluble; urinary excretion)
• Indicated in patients at high risk of TLS (Burkitt’s Lymphoma, B-ALL, ALL
(WBC >100,000), AML (WBC >50,000)
• Also indicated in patients that develop hyperuricemia despite allopurinol
– Dialysis can be used in severe cases
– Urine alkalization is NOT recommended – does not increase solubility of
xanthine/hypoxanthine with an increased propensity to develop xanthine-obstructive
uropathies (esp with allopurinol use)

58. DIC
• Common symptoms/findings
– in addition to weakness (anemia), infections/fever (malfunctioning WBCs)
– petechiae, ecchymoses, hematuria, bleeding from venipuncture sites
– migratory thrombophlebitis (Trousseau’s syndrome)
– nonbacterial thrombotic (marantic) endocarditis
– DVT/PE
• Lab findings
– Prolonged PT/INR, PTT
– microangiopathic anemia (schistocytes)
– thrombocytopenia
– elevated fibrin split products
– elevated D-dimer
– low fibrinogen

59. DIC
• Treatment
1. Supportive therapy
• Platelets
• Cryoprecipitate (fibrinogen)
• FFP
1. Treatment for obvious thrombosis (e.g
thrombophlebitis, mural thrombus)
• UFH or LMWH; often resistant to coumadin
• activated protein C
1. Treatment of underlying malignancy
• In the case of AML M3 → All-Trans Retinoic Acid (PML-RARα)
– Induces differentiation beyond promyelocyte phase
– Only with the more common t(15;17) translocation; t(11;17) and t(5;17) do not respond to
ATRA
• Remission rates of greater than 90% with AML M3 patient treated with ATRA and
chemotx (eg, anthracyclines (idarubicin)) with 60-70% disease free survival
• Arsenic trioxide in those that relapse – achieves complete remission in >90%

60. CNS Involvement
• Occurs in less than 5% of AML patients (highest
incidence in relapsed promyelocytic (M3) variant)
– Routine LP is not performed unless symptoms suggestive of
CNS pathology
• Common symptoms
– headache
– mental status changes
– CN palsies (commonly CN III or VI)
– CSF findings
• blast cells
• moderate increase in protein and moderate decrease in glucose

61. CNS Involvement
• Treatment
– Intrathecal chemotherapy (methotrexate or
cytarabine) +/- whole brain XRT
• addition of XRT depends on response to intrathecal
chemotx and whether there is cranial nerve involvement
• high relapse rate
– Commonly administer prophylactic intrathecal
chemotx in relapsed promyelocytic disease

62. THANK YOU