Cytobiological and Clinical Aspects of Tissue Mast Cell Leukaemia

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Abstract
The results of a series of cytochemical, autoradiographic, cytophotometric and immunological investigations in a [human] case of tissue mast cell leukemia are described. Leukemic mast cells showed certain distinctive cytochemical features, including an intense periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction, sensitivity to amylase digestion, strong naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase (NASDCE) activity and intense lactate dehydrogenase (LD) activity. Proliferative activity, determined autoradiographically with 3H-dT, was considerably low and was mainly confined to the larger cells. Also uridine and leucine incorporations were markedly reduced. Microdensitometry disclosed that the mast cell population was mainly arrested in the G1 phase. Because of previous attempts to selectively destroy neoplastic tissue mast cells with sheep antihuman Ig[immunoglobulin]E serum, a search for surface bound IgE was carried out, but gave a negative result. Possible therapeutic approaches are considered in the light of previous clinical experience and on the basis of the results of the kinetic and metabolic studies.