Abstract
Comparative studies of in vitro responses to PHA stimulation between normal lymphoctyes and lymphocytes of CLL have shown significant functional differences.
Lymphocytes from 25 normal subjects showed maximum response at three days, while the leukemic cells did not reach a maximum degree of transformation until seven days. Moreover, the maximum transformation of the leukemic lymphocytes was significantly less than that of the normal lymphocytes.
After therapy, the lymphoctyes of the leukemic patients showed a gradual return to the levels and rates of lymphocyte transformation of the normal controls. This generally followed hematologic and clinical remission by several months.
This in vitro system demonstrates functional differences between normal lymphocytes and the lymphoctyes of CLL. It could also be used as one method for judging the therapeutic efficacy of agents used in the treatment of CLL.
