A quantitative assay for the number of leukemic spleen colony forming unit in radiation-induced murine myeloid leukemia

In mice with myelogenous leukemia, leukemic spleen colony forming units were assayed quantitatively. When 5 x 103 - 2 x 104 leukemic cells were transplanted to other mice of the same strain, a rectilinear relationship (p < 0.01) was found between the number of the cells transplanted and that of the colonies formed on the surface of the spleen. From these results, the authors considered that myelogenous leukemia in mice is an adequate model for acute myelogenous leukemia in human adults, and that the quantitative assay of the leukemic colony forming units can be used for sensitivity tests of antileukemic agents. (Ueda, J.)