Papers And Originals
Safe Method of Collecting Leukaemia Cells from Patients with Acute Leukaemia for Use as Immunotherapy
Br Med J 1974; 4 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.4.5941.375 (Published 16 November 1974) Cite this as: Br Med J 1974;4:375
- R. L. Powles,
- T. A. Lister,
- R. T. D. Oliver,
- J. Russell,
- C. Smith,
- H. E. M. Kay,
- T. J. McElwain,
- G. Hamilton Fairley
Abstract
Leukaemia cells were collected from the blood of 72 untreated patients using a continuous-flow blood cell separator. The yield of cells was proportional to the number circulating in the patient, and up to 1 × 1012 could be obtained in three hours. Complications of the procedure were mild, consisting of chills and shivering in 18% of patients. Leucopheresis at the time of diagnosis is an essential part of setting up a specific immunotherapy programme for patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia, and the lack of harmful side effects makes the collection of these cells ethically justified. The need for a centralized service to provide cells for this form of therapy is emphasized.