Kinetics of Normal and Leukemic Leukocyte Populations and Relevance to Chemotherapy

Summary

There have been several recent comprehensive reviews of normal and leukemic leukocyte kinetics in man (15, 36, 56), but this review purposely has been limited in scope. It is written not as much for investigators who are engaged in study of leukemic cell or normal cell kinetics as for those who are primarily involved in design of therapeutic trials, experimental and clinical.

The purpose of the review is to bring together some “kinetic” information which appears to have special significance to therapy. Such information on human and animal leukemic cell populations and certain normal cell populations is spread so widely throughout the scientific literature that its consideration in an overall context is very difficult. Thus attempts at interdigitation (e.g., “kinetic” versus therapeutic response data), in order to work toward unifying concepts and more effective applications, are both difficult and time consuming for anyone who wishes to try. We have attempted to tabulate diverse data in such a manner that comparisons are more feasible. Certain current interpretations or concepts, from numerous sources, have been narrated or illustrated. Several questions have been posed which seem to be especially pertinent to therapy.