Culture of human leukemia cells

Abstract

New human leukemia cell lines from 4 patients have been established. All are characterized by preferential growth in small clumps and large flat plaques of cells. The cell lines were adapted to suspension cultures and grown in one- to 200-liter containers. The design of practical automated units for continuous culture of leukemia cells has been accomplished. Some of the nutritional requirements of these cell lines are summarized. Cytological studies revealed that all of the cell lines have a normal diploid karyotype with few aberrant cells. None of the cultured cells derived from chronic myelocytic leukemia retained the Ph chromosome. Electron microscopy has shown virus-like particles in several of these cell lines. Preliminary studies of the value of these cultured leukemia cells in biochemical, viral and clinical immunological studies are discussed.