Profound radiosensitivity in "leukemic" T-cell lines and T-cell-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia demonstrated by sodium [51Cr]chromate labeling.
Radiation sensitivity was determined by measuring spontaneous release from 51Cr-labeled cells in various lymphoid cell populations. Among six leukemia T-cell lines originating from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, four such lines were found to be highly radiosensitive. In contrast, two of the leukemic T-cell lines and four normal control B-cell lines were not radiosensitive. Thymocytes from six patients and leukemia T-cell blasts from three patients with T-cell leukemia were likewise found to be highly radiosensitive, whereas leukemic blasts from six patients with null-cell (non-T, non-B-cell) acute lymphoblastic leukemia were not radiosensitive. Normal peripheral blood lymphocytes and mitogen-induced normal lymphoblasts were found not to be radiosensitive. The results indicate that measurement of the radiation sensitivity of acute leukemic blasts may have a therapeutic significance in coping with the heterogeneous nature of individual leukemia cases.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002840:Chromates / Q000378:metabolism*; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*
D002840:Chromates; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes