The normal lymphocytes of 11 of 18 patients with acute leukemia in remission showed a positive blastogenic response in vitro to autologous leukemia cells. The effect of autologous serum on this response was studied to determine if there were factors which might abrogate or "block" this response. Serum obtained at diagnosis (i.e., during a tumor-bearing period) was compared with remission serum with the expectation of demonstrating a "blocking" effect of the former and no effect or perhaps even facilitation with the latter. However, this was not the case, and no consistent differences in blastogenesis in the presence of the two sera were seen. In addition, during the period of observation, there was little correlation between the presence or absence of in vitro response to autologous tumor and prognosis.

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© 1974 by American Society of Hematology, Inc.
1974
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