title: Safe method of collecting leukaemia cells from patients with acute leukaemia for use as immunotherapy.
abstract: Leukaemia cells were collected from the blood of 72 untreated patients using a continuous-flow blood cell separator. The yield of cells was proportional to the number circulating in the patient, and up to 1 x 10(12) could be obtained in three hours. Complications of the procedure were mild, consisting of chills and shivering in 18% of patients. Leucopheresis at the time of diagnosis is an essential part of setting up a specific immunotherapy programme for patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia, and the lack of harmful side effects makes the collection of these cells ethically justified. The need for a centralized service to provide cells for this form of therapy is emphasized.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001792:Blood Platelets; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D006493:Heparin