This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Preisler, H. D. Articles by Marinello, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Preisler, H. D. Articles by Marinello, M.

Relationship of the Growth of Leukemic Cells in Vitro to the Outcome of Therapy for Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia¹

Department of Leukemia Service [H. D. P.] and Computer Center [N. A.], Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, and Buffalo General Hospital [M. M.], Buffalo, New York 14203

Bone marrow cells obtained from 166 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were cloned in vitro. The number and size of clones produced differed among patients and was unrelated to French-American-British type of leukemia, to patient age, to whether the patient was studied at the time of initial diagnosis or at relapse, or to the cytogenetic (normal or abnormal metaphases) or cell cycle characteristics of the leukemic bone marrow cells. The ability of leukemic cells to clone in vitro was associated with poor response to therapy in vivo, with the remission rate being inversely related to cloning efficiency of the leukemic cells, and with remission durations being inversely correlated with the size of the cluster/colonies formed in vitro. Only an occasional patient whose marrow cells produced clonal growth in vitro and in whom cytogenetic abnormalities were detected entered complete remission with conventional remission induction therapy. Measurement of the clonogenic potential in vitro of leukemic marrow cells together with their cytogenetic type may help to distinguish between patients who should and should not receive cytosine arabinoside/anthracycline antibiotic remission induction therapy and patients who do and do not require intensive remission consolidation chemotherapy.

¹ This research was supported by Intergroup Grant CA5834 and by Margaret Duffy and Robert Cameron Troup Memorial Fund Contract 229727A.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Department of Leukemia Service, 666 Elm Street, Buffalo, NY 14263.

Received 8/16/82. Accepted 12/29/83.