Table 3 Summary of the types of leukaemia including aetiology, genetic markers involved, clinical presentation and treatment [9,10,11]
Type | Aetiology | Specific markers | Clinical presentation | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Acute lymphocytic leukaemia | Chromosomal aberration resulting in abnormal transcription factors that affect development of B- and T cells | Hyperdiploidy, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase positive, t(9;22) | Symptoms related to depressed marrow function including anaemia, bone pain and central nervous system manifestations | Chemotherapy, intrathecal therapy, stem cell transplantation |
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia | Chromosomal deletion or possible somatic hypermutation of postgerminal B cells | Trisomy 12, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase negative, t(15;17) | Weight loss, superficial lymph node enlargement and moderate splenomegaly | Drug therapy including chemotherapy, purine analogues and monoclonal antibody therapy, neutrophil growth factors, radiation therapy |
Acute myelogenous leukaemia | Oncogenic mutations impede differentiation, accumulating immature myeloid blasts in bone marrow | t(8;21) | Anaemia and bacterial infections | Chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation |
Chronic myeloid leukaemia | Tyrosine kinase pathway related to chromosomal translocation of the Philadelphia chromosome | Philadelphia chromosome, t(9;22) | Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy and weight loss | Drug therapy including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, leukapheresis, stem cell transplantation |