RESPONSE TO THERAPY IN ACUTE MYELOID-LEUKEMIA - EXPLANATION OF 2 UNRELATED FINDINGS

Androgen therapy prolongs complete remission in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). (1,2) In vitro studies of clone formation by myeloid leukaemia cells in semi-solid agar cultures have revealed a relationship between culture findings and response to chemotherapy. (3) These seemingly unrelated findings may be explained by the hypothesis proposed here which relates clone size in culture and sensitivity to regulators of granulopoiesis with level of differentiation in the granulocyte-monocyte pathway. This hypothesis not only suggests other means of therapy which may be equally or more effective while lacking the side effects of androgen therapy, but also predicts which patients are most likely to benefit from such therapy. © 1979.