Circulating colony-forming units of granulocytes/monocytes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia before and during busulfan treatment.
The number of colony-forming units of granulocytes/monocytes (CFU-GM) in the peripheral blood of 7 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP) receiving standard doses of busulfan (BSF, 0.1-0.2 mg/kg/day p.o.) was compared to that found in 8 patients with CML in CP not previously treated in order to establish if non-myeloablative chemotherapy mobilizes committed granulomonocytic progenitor cells into the circulation. The number (mean +/- SEM) of spontaneous CFU-GM in untreated patients was similar to that recorded in 10 sex- and age-matched controls, 2.6 +/- 1.9 and 3.5 +/- 2.1, respectively. BSF-treated patients showed significantly more spontaneous CFU-GM (13.9 +/- 7.5) than controls and untreated patients. Addition of recombinant human granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor to cultures promoted colony growth in controls but not in untreated and BSF-treated patients. These data seemingly indicate that: 1) administration of standard non-myeloablative doses of BSF to patients with CML in CP mobilizes CFU-GM into the circulation and 2) BSF therapy selects a granulomonocytic colony-forming progenitor cell population with increased autonomous growth potential. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the therapeutic role of BSF in CML.
López-Karpovitch
X
X
Hematology Department, Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, Mexico, D.F.
Cárdenas
R
R
Piedras
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002066:Busulfan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology*
D002066:Busulfan