Colony forming ability of bone marrow cells from patients with acute leukemia

Bone marrow cells from adult patients with acute leukemia were serially cultured using an in vitro agar culture method. Four categories of growth pattern were recognized according to growth characteristics in vitro in previously untreated patients with leukemia. Detailed cytological investigation was performed for the determination of cell morphology and the origin of colonies. In vitro agar culture may be useful for monitoring the remission-relapse status in acute leukemia.