Defective <i>in Vitro</i> Colony Formation by Human Bone Marrow Preceding Overt Leukaemia

Abstract

Summary. Disordered haemopoiesis may precede acute leukaemia for prolonged periods. Three patients are presented in whom splenomegaly, peripheral cytopenia, hypercellular bone marrow, and reduced colony formation in marrow cell culture were present for intervals of 27, 15 and 5 mth prior to definite diagnosis of acute leukaemia. Reduced colony formation by human bone marrow does not appear to be solely related to infiltration by recognizable leukaemic cells, but may reflect a disturbance in granulopoiesis occurring prior to the development of overt leukaemia.