Cellular blood fluorescence polarization: a possible prognostic tool in human acute lymphatic leukemia

We measured the fluorescence polarization of 1-6 diphenyl hexatriene in mononucleated cells from the peripheral blood of 49 acute lymphoid leukemic patients in complete hematological remission with an Elscint MV-1 microviscosimeter. The measurements of fluorescence polarization were made at various times after the remission was achieved. Our results represent two years of this prospective study. We found that lymphoid leukemic patients in remission could be separated into two groups according to the lowest value of fluorescence polarization of their blood cells. 1) The first group of 26 patients showed values superior to 3.44 poises, in all samples, corresponding to the lowest value of normal controls. 2) The second group showed at least one value of blood fluorescence polarization lower than 3.44 poises. This second group had a significantly lower median duration of remission and survival compared to the first. We have subdivided these two groups according to other established prognostic parameters such as cytological subtype and initial volume of the disease: we found that cellular fluorescence polarization could give additional prognostic information. These data suggest that fluorescence polarization measurements have a prognostic value to follow acute lymphoid leukemia patients in complete remission: when a low value is found there is a significant risk of relapse.