[In vitro granulomonocytopoiesis during and after treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children]. / Granulomonocitopoyesis in vitro durante y tras el tratamiento de las leucemias linfoblásticas agudas infantiles.

ABSTRACT

We studied the effects of antileukemic chemotherapy on the granulomonocytic precursors (CFU-GM) by the in vitro bone marrow culture method. Groups of study were 1) 17 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in complete remission, under maintenance chemotherapy, and 2) 10 children who had finished the treatment. Both groups had the same treatment schedule. As a control group, we studied CFU-GM from 3 children without bone marrow lesion. The results show a diminution of the granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells in individuals under treatment, compared with the control group, after a 14 days incubation period. The group of children out of treatment shows a higher number of progenitor cells after 7 days of incubation (mature progenitors), but number decreases after 14 days (immature progenitors). Therefore, we can deduce a toxic effect, direct or indirect, but probably sustained, of the chemotherapy on the granulomonocytic precursor cells.