The nature of the leukemic process is discussed with respect to the possible in vitro transformation of the leukemic blast cells into myeloid differentiated cells. During the period 1968-1970 we noticed this process in bone marrow cultures in fluid medium. The differentiation was established on morphologic and cytochemical criteria; the proportion of mature cells or those undergoing maturation with peroxidase positive reaction increased over 50% reaching even 70-80%. Our recent observations can be discussed from several points of view but leukemic blast cell reversibility is now a phenomenon with therapeutical applications. The phenomenon of malignant cells growth enhancement has been considered as an antibody mediated immune process. In a previous paper we have demonstrated in AKR mice the possibility of achieving the growth enhancement of lymphoblastic cells in mixed cultures with normal autologous or isologous splenic cells. Other investigations have been carried out by means of mixed cultures in human leukemias and malignant lymphomas. The intensity of blast-cell proliferation was followed up by comparing the number of colonies and TH3 incorporation in simple cultures with those in mixed cultures. The observations made in the 20 culture systems followed-up over 3-5 and 8-10 days proved the "malignant cell growth enhancement" by the immune mononuclear cells (lymphocytes and macrophages).

Blood Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relationships between lymphography and the histologic nodal and splenic types in Hodgkin's disease. Considerations on clinical evolution.

Trying to establish the eventual interrelations of the initial histologic nodal type and the splenic one, the general lymphographic picture, the histologic nodal type and spleen involvement, lymphographic and histologic examinations were carried out in 151 patients with Hodgkin's disease. Lympographies were performed in 139 cases, and splenectomy (followed by splenic, hepatic and abdominal lymph node biopsies) in 32. Lymphocyte depletion was found in 72.7% of the patients with lymph node obstruction diagnosed lymphographically. Splenic involvement was more frequent in cases with pathologic lymphographic picture and histologic aspects of lymphocyte predominance or nodular sclerosis. In patients with initial nodal histologic types of nodular sclerosis or lymphocyte depletion, the splenic histopathologic types were the same, but they got more severe in cases with lymphocyte predominance or mixed cellularity. Splenic biopsy might be unconclusive after protracted cytostatic treatment or splenic X-ray therapy. In the authors' opinion, early routine splenectomy is rather more advisable than differentiated splenectomy.

Hodgkin Disease↗