[Colony-forming ability of bone marrow in children with acute leukemia]

Colony- and cluster-forming ability of bone marrow cells in agar medium was studied in 6 healthy children and 13 children suffering from acute leukosis. During acute stages of the diseases colonies and clusters in agar medium consisted of granulocytic cells and their quantity depended on the safety of predecessors of bone marrow granulopoiesis. In contrast to acute lymphoblastic leucosis, acute myeloblastic leucosis is characterized by a sharp growth of cluster-forming and a less intensive growth of colony-forming ability of hemopoietic cells. The bone marrow remission is marked by the growth of diffusive and mixed colonies and clusters, consisting of granulomonocytic elements. The low level of colony- and cluster-formation in the medium at the last stage of therapy (induction of acute leukosis remission) correlated well with positive indices of treatment effectiveness. The results obtained during the cultivation of blood-forming cells in the agar medium may be also used for diagnosis and prognosis.