The labelling index of marrow myeloblasts: A predictive test for relapse of acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia

• Published in: Leukemia research Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 79 - 87
• Main Authors: Stryckmans, Pierre, Debusscher, Louisette, Ronge-Collard, E., Socquet, Mireille, Zittoun, Robert
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 1980
• Subjects: Adult; Bone Marrow - metabolism; Humans; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute - diagnosis; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute - drug therapy; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute - metabolism; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - diagnosis; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - drug therapy; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute - metabolism; Prognosis; Thymidine - metabolism; AD; 6 TG; VCR; MLI; 3 HTdR; CR; MTX; ANLL; 6 MP; CPA; CFU-C; SEM; ARA-C; DA; M-GAG
• ISSN: 0145-2126; 1873-5835
• DOI: 10.1016/0145-2126(80)90048-X

The 3HTdR labelling index of the marrow myeloblasts (MLI) was determined serially throughout complete remission (CR) of adult acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL). 110 marrow samples were examined during 28 phases of CR obtained in 23 ANLL patients. The MLI was found to be between 20 and 66 in 100 determinations. An MLI below 20% was not found in well established complete remission but did occur near the end of 8 out of 20 CRs, 5–12 weeks (mean 7.6) before the reappearance of leukemic blasts in the marrow as judged by conventional microscopic examination. In those cases, the mean MLI was 13.2 (range 6–18). An MLI below 20% appears to be a reliable and early predictor of relapse of AML and permits the investigation of the clinical benefit of treating incipient relapse.