Cytogenetic and morphologie abnormalities in human bone marrow cells during cytosine arabinoside therapy.

By VILLIAM H. BELL, JACQUELINE J. \\IIANC, PAUL P. CARBONE, GEORGE BIuCIIEJI AND JEROME B. BLOCK T HE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY of cytosine arabinosid& (1-/3-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine hydrochloride) has included inhibition of the multiplication of both neoplastic cells in animal systems23 and of DNA viruses.4’ Megaloblastosis and abnormal mitotic figures in marrow aspirates have l)een associated with cytosine arabinoside therapy6 in patients with disseminated malignant disease. Also, in vitro culture of human leukocytes7 in the preseiice of cytosine arabinoside results in severe chromosome abnormalities. In view of these reports 10 patients with malignant diseases receivmg cytosine arabinoside were fully evaluated by cytogenetic and hematologic studies in order to further characterize the abnormalities developing during such therapy. These studies demonstrated profound aberrations in the morphologic appearance of bone marrow cells and their chromosome structure.