Objectives of the course: The course offers gaining of knowledge regarding the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic myeloid leukemia, that also includes basic knowledge of applied molecular biology, use of the microscope, transfusion medicine, diagnosis and management of infections in the immunocompromised patient, basic principles of allogeneic transplantation and basic principles of clinical research.

Contents of the course: Epidemiology and WHO Classification of Leukemias. Clinical presentation and molecular mechanism of leukemogenesis, breaking bad news, discussing the diagnosis and prognosis. Diagnosis of leukemia/Blasts: morphology in the peripharal blood and bone marrow smear. Allogeneic haematopoetic stem cell transprantation: basic priciples, indications and procedure. Treatment options. Application of cytogenetic and molecular analyses: qPCR, minimal residual disease. Videos of procedures: venpucture, bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, central catheter. Clinical and translational research, international research networks. Demonstartion of flow cytometry in an acute leukemia sample (group of 3 students), demonstration of biobanking, detection of PML/RARa transcript by PCR (group of 3 students). Demostration of peripheral blood and bone marrow smear microscopy (8-10 smears from patients with acute or chronic myeloid leukemia). Participation in a bone marrow biopsy precedure. Participation in the diagnosis and management of a patient with leukemia. Participation in the prescription and administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy and hypomethylating treatment.

Mode and outcomes of teaching: The course is tought in combination with clinical and laboratory practice in groups of 3-4 students. At the end of the course the students should be able to recognize the clinical and laboratory presentation of leukemia, to discuss with the patient and the relatives regarding the diagnosis and prognosis of the diesease, to perform a bone marrow biopsy, to gain basic experience in molecular techniques, to prescribe a cytotoxic regimen, to know how to search for literature regarding a certain subject.

Hours of training per student: 27

From the 10th Semester

ECTS: 2