International Journal of Cell Cloning, Vol 3, 199-213, Copyright © 1985 by AlphaMed Press
CFU-gm colony formation of peripheral blood and bone marrow in adult acute leukemia at presentation, during remission, and at relapse
U Jehn and K Wachholz
Granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-gm) formation was studied
simultaneously in bone marrow and peripheral blood of 52 previously
untreated adult patients with acute non-lymphocytic (ANLL) and 36 with
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). They were followed during induction
therapy at monthly intervals while in remission and in 19 ANLL and 22 ALL
cases, until relapse. Patients showing a decreased colony number in the
marrow but normal or increased colony numbers in the peripheral blood had a
high probability of entering remission. Non- responding patients displayed
an opposite pattern. The higher the degree of marrow repopulation with
granulocytic progenitor cells after induction treatment, the longer
remission duration and survival for ANLL patients and the longer survival
for ALL patients. CFU-gm formation returned to normal in the early stages
of complete remission, but then declined progressively. At ANLL and ALL
relapse, colony growth was reduced markedly while cluster formation
remained normal. The number of marrow colonies and clusters in ANLL were
significantly higher at first and second relapse compared to the growth
pattern at first presentation. A similar trend had been observed in ALL,
suggesting a selection advantage.
