In vitro chemo-sensitivity of B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia to ara-G

• Published in: Leukemia research 2000-07, Vol.24 (7), p.623-626
• Main Authors: Bromidge, Teresa, Frewin, Rebecca, Johnson, Stephen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Ara-G; Arabinonucleosides - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemosensitivity; Chemotherapy; CLL; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - pathology; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - pathology; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Purine analogues
• ISSN: 0145-2126; 1873-5835
• DOI: 10.1016/S0145-2126(00)00030-8

In vitro sensitivity to ara-G of peripheral blood B-CLL lymphocytes from 23 patients was assessed using the flow cytometric TdT assay. All patients had typical B-CLL, according to immunophenotype and morphology, and none had received treatment within 1 year of testing. A wide range of spontaneous apoptosis was recorded. Exposure of the cells to a concentration of ara-G, comparable to plasma levels achieved in a phase I trial, produced significant increases in the rate of apoptosis in 21 out of 23 patients. Prior treatment, stage or lymphocyte doubling time did not influence the effect of ara-G. Ten patients’ samples tested, in parallel, for sensitivity to fludarabine demonstrated a good correlation of response to both drugs. This in vitro evidence of activity against B-CLL suggests that the spectrum of clinically useful action may be broader than previously demonstrated.