AML: A Comprehensive Overview of Pathophysiology and Treatment

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This presentation explores Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

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PHARMACOLOG
Y
1
ACUTE MYELOID
LEUKEMIA

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 This presentation discuses a type of blood cancer,
acute myeloid leukemia, also known as AML.
 The presentation aims at understanding the
pathophysiology behind the disease.
 It also includes the mechanism of action along with
pharmacokinetics and pharmacology of drugs used in
chemotherapy.
 The presentation involves the complete
understanding of the disease and all its aspects.
INTRODUCTION

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 Bone marrow is the part of the body which is
responsible for formation of different types of blood
cells.
 Bone marrow is located in some of the bones in the
body.
 It is a soft material which is present inside the bones.
 It contains supporting tissues, fat cells and cells that
aid in formation of different blood cells (Bain, Clark
and Wilkins, 2019).
BONE MARROW

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 Acute myeloid leukemia occurs due to abnormality in
the cells present in the bone marrow.
 The cells do not undergo maturation and thus keep
building up as blast cells (Döhner, Weisdorf and
Bloomfield, 2015).
 This type of cancer is acute and thus it can spread to
other areas apart from blood like lymph nodes, liver,
testicles, spleen etc.
ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

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 The cells within the bone marrow undergo
maturational arrest in their initial developmental
period.
 In many cases, this maturational arrest occurs due to
problems in activation and deactivation of genes
during translocations of chromosomes.
 Thus the production of normal blood cells decreases.
 The disease also causes rapid proliferation of the
myeloblastic cells.
 These myeloblasts are unable to undergo apoptosis
and thus accumulate within the blood, spleen, liver
etc. (De Kouchkovsky et al, 2016).
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

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MOLECULAR PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

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 There are two types of chemotherapy and the
intensity of the chemotherapy depends upon various
factors like age and other health risks.
 The two different chemotherapies are:
1. Induction therapy
2. Post-remission therapy
 Leukopheresis is a method which is performed on
patients who are diagnosed with higher number of
myeloblasts (Estey, 2014).
MANAGEMENT

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 Cytarabine is used in the method of induction in
chemotherapy.
 It is used to treat Acute myeloid leukemia along with
Acute Lyphoblastic leukemia.
 Cytarabine is a cytotoxic drug and a nucleoside
analogue.
 It manipulates the growth of myeloblastic cells and
hence control the growth and spread of cancer
(Willemze et al, 2014).
CYTARABINE (ARA-C)

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 It is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog.
 It antimetabolite antineoplastic agent.
 It’s main action is to hinder the formation of DNA.
 The action of the cytarabine (ara-c) drug is
concentrated at S-phase of DNA synthesis.
 This drug also acts as an antiviral and an
immunosuppresant drug.
MECHANISM OF ACTION

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 Route of administration
Intravenous or intrathecal infusion
 Indication
Acute myeloid leukemia and Acute Lymphoblastic
leukemia
 Contraindication
Pregnancy, coma, Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome
 Side effects
Loss of appetite, skin rash, redness, diarrhea
PHARMACOLOGY

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 Biologically inactive metabolite uracil arabinoside
causes rapid deamination of the drug cytarabine.
 The drug can be protected if it is capsulated by
pharmaceutically accepted carriers.
 The derivatives that are formed of the cytarabine
drug are rare and still under trial.
 The derivative of the drug has been used in japan
clinically (Döhner et al, 2014).
PHARMACOKINETICS

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There isn’t a completely reliable and proven method for
prevention of Acute myeloid leukemia. However this
disease can be prevented by controlling the risk factors
that link to the disease (Tsirigotis et al, 2016).
 Smoking can be controlled to avoid incidence of AML.
 Harmful chemicals like benzene are also a risk factor
for AML.
RELEVANCE TO CURRENT PRACTICE