LEUKOCYTE DEPLETION FILTER REMOVES CANCER-CELLS IN HUMAN BLOOD

Background. Autologous blood transfusion has been avoided in cancer su rgery because of the metastatic potential of reinfused tumour cells. M ethods. This study evaluated the efficacy of a blood transfusion filte r in removing tumour cells from blood. Whole human blood was admired w ith two different malignant cell lines (breast cancer PM1 and MCF7). T he blood was filtered through a RC400TE leucocyte depletion filter. Un filtered blood was used as a control. Detection of malignant cells was performed with immuno-magnetic beads and clonogenic assays. Results. No viable tumour cells were found after filtration with the leucocyte depletion filter. Conclusion. These findings suggest that the use of a leucocyte filter after intra-operative blood salvage may make autotra nsfusion safe even in tumour surgery.