Studies on the Mechanism of Leukemogenesis by Ionizing Radiation

The induction of leukemia by ionizing radiation is influenced by many variables, including radiation intensity, radiation dose, fraction of the body irradiated, genetic differences in susceptibility, age at irradiation, sex, and other physiologic factors. The influence of these variables on the induction of leukemia varies with the hematologic type of leukemia induced. Irradiation increases the susceptibility of adult mice to filterable leukemogenic agents that, administered after irradiation, enhance the development of leukemia.