Cytochemical observations in preleukemic states and remission of akute leukemia

Abstract

In preleukemia and in remission of acute leukemia abnormal mononuclear cells ("string of bead" cells) have been observed and characterized with cytochemical methods. These cells may be resistant to cytostatic therapy and may be characterized as a source of a newly developing leukemic blast cells. Preleukemia and leukemic remissions seem to be identical states. Based on the morphological and cytochemical parallelity of cells in CFU-c-enriched fractions of the bone marrow and the so called string of bead cells we consider these cells to be closely related to the human commited stem cell.

Two Cases of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Evolving into a Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia-like State after Induction Therapy.

“…These findings suggest that the present two patients presented with acute transformation from CMMoL and that chemotherapy restored them to a CMMoL-like state, although the antecedent CMMoL phase was not clinically apparent in both cases. The development of a myelodysplastic state after chemotherapy for AML has been well documented (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). In 1983, Foucar et al observed the development of a myelodysplastic state after successful induction therapy in four AML patients and reported this as "postleukemic dysmyelopoiesis" (1).…”

“…The development of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after successful chemotherapy for AML has been well documented and is attributed to the effects of chemotherapy (1,2). On the other hand, Brito-Babapulle et al recently reported a new clinical entity of de novo AML with coexistent features of trilineage myelodysplasia (AML/TMDS) and the frequent myelodysplastic relapse of AML/TMDS after successful chemotherapy, sug gesting that a pre-existing subclinical myelodysplastic state may be present in AML/TMDS (3,4).…”