A study of leukemic cell injury by physical agents.

Human leukemic cells were tested for fragility by physical agents. The results obtained from this study are summarized as follows: (a) acute monocytic leukemia was relatively resistant to the hyperthermic and hypotonie states; (b) acute myeloblastic leukemia was fragile to the hyperthermic state and resistant to the hypotonie state; (c) acute lymphoblastic leukemia was fragile to both the hyperthermic and hypotonie states; (d) two chronic lymphatic leukemias were highly resistant to the hyperthermic state and fragile to the hypotonie state, and the other two chronic lymphatic leukemias were fragile to both states. The data indicate that leukemic cells of various types have their own biophysical properties. Utilizing these properties of various types of leukemic cells, we may be able to obtain useful information regarding the nature of leukemic cells and thus determine the biophysical criteria for the classification of leukemias. The mechanisms or factors effecting differences in biophysical properties among the various types of leukemias are also discussed.