Leukemia

Epidemiology
Most common form of leukemia in adults: CLL; second most is AML
AML is the most common form of chemo-induced leukemia

In children, the most common leukemia is ALL

Risk factors
Radiation exposure
Prior chemotherapy
Smoking
Benzene exposure

Path buzzwords
CML: associated with Philadelphia chromosome and t9;22 which creates the bcr-abl hybrid
CLL: associated with CD5, CD20 (B cell markers)
AML: CD13, 33; t15;17 and t8;21 (which is favorable
ALL: Philadelphia chromosome+ is bad prognostic factor
APL: Variant of AML - retinoids and anthracyclines used to treat

Treatment
Chemo
CML: imatinib (Gleevec)
RT used for: transplant conditioning, chloroma (very low doses needed - ~12Gy), PCI (used rarely)