[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.

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.