EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON MINIMAL RESIDUAL LEUKEMIA

Using a transplantable mouse leukemia (L7212) , a T-cell ALL, a similar model to human minimal residual leukemia was reproduced. At the 3rd day after inoculation of S.C. 1.0 ×106 cells, the mice were injected i.p. with a single high dose of cyclophosphamide (250mg/kg) . The mice treated with CTX survived longer time, number of leukemia cells remained in the body was the lowest, and the rate of leukemia relapse was the highest. The results were quite stable. Therefore, this model could be used to study minimal residual leukemia. According to the detection of residual leukemia cells in the spleen, liver and peripheral blood, the distribution of residual leukemia cells was not homologous. The migration of leukemia cells from local organs to circulation blood was very rapid. The count of WBC in peripheral blood and the weight of liver and spleen in the relapsed leukemia was higher than that of non-treated leukemia mice, and the G0 + Gl phase cells of relapsed leukemia was also higher. It was helpful for studying human residual leukemia. Key words: Mouse leukemia; minimal residual leukemia; leukemia relapse