2010 HOPA Oncology Boot Camp – Pediatrics Page 1 Common Pediatric Cancers

Heterogeneous group of disorders of the hematological system characterized by the increase in blood cells [(most commonly affects leukocytes [white blood cells)] Pathophysiology ALL: Clonal disorder of the hematopoietic system affecting the lymphoid cell line with most cases involving acquired genetic abnormalities; B-cells (85 % of cases) are affected more than T-cells (15 % of cases) AML: As with ALL but affects the myeloid cell line Epidemiology ALL: Most common cancer to occur in children less than 15 years old; represents approximately 25-30 % of total cancers in children and 75-80 % of all leukemias in children; peak incidence occurs in children 2-5 years in age; most common genetic syndrome associated with ALL is Down syndrome AML: 2nd most common leukemia in children accounting for 15-20 % of all leukemia cases (yet represents 30 % of childhood deaths from leukemia); number of cases representing de novo AML is remaining stable but the development of secondary AML (e.g., from exposure to topoisomerase II inhibitors is rising); AML accounts for ~90 % of myeloid leukemias in children and CML accounts for ~ 5 % of cases. Presentatio