THE CONTRIBUTION OF BLAST CELL PROPERTIES TO OUTCOME VARIATION IN ACUTE MYELOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA (AML)

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (3) , 601-608
Abstract
The blast cell population in AML [acute myeloblastic leukemia] includes progenitors capable of colony formation in culture. Certain properties of these progenitors were determined, including their capacity for self-renewal and their sensitivities to the chemotherapeutic drugs cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and adriamycin (Adria). Wide patient to patient variation was found in these properties, although they were stable during the course of the disease in each patient. The properties of these progenitors, together with clinical risk factors were tested as attributes contributing to the variation in remission induction and survival. As univariate parameters, self-renewal and Ara-C sensitivity contributed to remission induction, but only self-renewal was related to survival. In multivariate analysis, self-renewal, age and percentage blasts in the marrow contributed to outcome variation; drug sensitivities were not significant. Self-renewal, a biological property of malignant AML clones, although measured in culture, plays a significant role in determining response to treatment and survival in AML.