title: Separation of chronic lymphocytic-leukemia (cll) cells by a discontinuous density gradient - correlation with clinical stage.
abstract: Peripheral blood or bone marrow cells of 15 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were separated on an albumin density gradient. In 5 of 5 CLL patients, the distribution of malignant B lymphocytes was similar across the gradient when blood and bone marrow were compared, but different from the distribution of cells from healthy volunteers. In 10 patients, B cell colony formation was measured in vitro from peripheral blood cells after gradient fractionation. Although most of the cells in all patients were found in fraction 4, the majority of B-lymphocyte colonies were found in light density fractions (1+2, 3) in patients with more advanced disease (Rai stages 3 or 4), and in heavier fractions (4, bottom) in patients with less advanced disease (Rai stages 0, 1 or 2). The density of CLL cells might provide a new prognostic marker in this disease.
authors.affiliation: LAKESIDE VET ADM MED CTR,CHICAGO,IL 60611.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kies
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prachand
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vriesendorp