This module will provide the student with advanced knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of patients with haematological neoplasms. Haematopoiesis and the development of pre-malignant and malignant states will be discussed. Molecular diagnostics, current research and advances in the laboratory investigation of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasia will be critically reviewed.
*Curricular information is subject to change
- Haematopoiesis
The production of haematopoietic stem cells, the role of the bone marrow micro-environment, regulation of proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation; - Aetiological and Oncogenic Factors
The role of viruses, immunity and genetic factors in the development of leukaemia and lymphoma; Role of the immune system in lymphomagenesis, lymphoma development in immune-suppressed and autoimmune diseases; Pre-leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and molecular pathogenesis of leukaemias; Molecular genetic and chromosomal alterations and their effects on signal transduction pathways and proliferation and apoptosis in these neoplastic proliferations; - Laboratory Diagnosis
Morphology; Fine needle aspirate cytology of lymphomas, biopsy and bone marrow analysis. Investigation of immunophenotype by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry; MRD; Clonality testing for reactive and low grade neoplasias; Investigation of chromosomal and molecular genetic alterations in leukaemias and lymphomas by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and RT-PCR, gene expression profiling and gene sequencing for common mutations; Next Generation sequencing; - Classification and Therapy
The 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours: Lymphoid Neoplasms; The 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours: Myeloid and Histiocytic/Dendritic Neoplasms; Current and evolving targeted therapies for treatment of white cell neoplastic proliferations, role of molecular biomarker analysis for patient stratification and therapy selection. - Disease Models
MDS, Acute and Chronic Leukaemias, Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas, Anaplastic large cell lymphomas, Plasma Cell Myeloma and Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia.
Lectures, tutorials, student presentations, case studies, workshops, paper reviews.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |