Burkitt, CLL, multiple myeloma

[murfettie]

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I'm really confused about what exactly is different pathological basis between Burkitt and CLL. It sounds like they are both problems with mature B-cell, render it dysfunction and with proliferation.
Multiple myeloma is problem with plasma cell, which is a step further along from B-cell?

 

[Baron Samedi]

I'm really confused about what exactly is different pathological basis between Burkitt and CLL. It sounds like they are both problems with mature B-cell, render it dysfunction and with proliferation.
Multiple myeloma is problem with plasma cell, which is a step further along from B-cell?

To really distinguish between blood cancers you need to look at the specific genetic anomalies that are occurring. For example, with Burkitt you get 8:14 translocation which causes uncontrolled transcription of the Ig heavy chain and disruption of Bcl-2(anti-apoptotic gene). This occurs in the germinal center B cells. SLL/CLL occurs in naive B or memory B cells -- so ones that have already exited the lymph nodes. You already got multiple myeloma nailed -- that's plasma cells that have already undergone all the differentiation they ever will and have been out in the periphery. When they become mutated they home into the bone marrow and cause all sorts of problems there.

This pic from Robbins might help

 

[sirenomelia]

The above post is somewhat wrong.

Burkitts and CLL are both B-cell lymphomas

Burkitts classically features a c-myc- IgH gene translocation (t 8:14) but c-myc can translocate to different partners. Bcl2 is an anti-apoptotic gene that should be negative in Burkitts. Burkitts is a high-grade lymphoma that often presents with a mass and/or lymphadenopathy.

CLL is characterized usually by circulating lymphoma cells in elderly people. Its often indolent and is just followed.

Plasma cell myeloma is a cancer involving plasma cells associated with circulating paraproteins, end organ damage- ie renal failure, and bone marrow involvement with lytic bone lesions.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

I'm really confused about what exactly is different pathological basis between Burkitt and CLL. It sounds like they are both problems with mature B-cell, render it dysfunction and with proliferation.
Multiple myeloma is problem with plasma cell, which is a step further along from B-cell?

Burkitt's Lymphoma is a lymphoma, cancer within the lymph node. lymphoma = tumor of the lymph node

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is a cancer of white cells in the blood. -emia = in the blood

Then there are Cd markers and translocations that define one over the other. But this boils down to "cut out tumor, run on electrophoresis." But the HUGE difference you are missing is one is a tumor of the bone marrow pouring dysfunctional leukocytes into the blood (leukemia) and one is proliferation of leukocytes wtihtin the lymph node (lymphoma)

CLL = Bone marrow --> blood
Burkitt's = Lymph Node