title: Practical aspects and diagnostic significance of in vitro manipulation of progenitors in human acute myeloid and lymphoid leukaemia.
abstract: Since their introduction in the early seventies, in vitro culture techniques for human acute leukaemia cells have been modified and improved considerably. Primarily, this is the result of the availability of the recombinant haematopoietic growth factors (HGFs). It is now possible to evaluate HGF responses of acute leukaemia cells in colony and DNA synthesis assays under fully defined conditions. In this chapter we summarize the current insights into the growth properties of human acute leukaemia progenitor cells and evaluate the potential significance of the application of in vitro clonogenic assays for refining the diagnosis of acute leukaemia, for detecting minimal residual disease and for monitoring therapy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Löwenberg
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Touw
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances