It has been found recently that di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) possesses a
new pharmacological activity in the selective elimination of tumor ce
lls from marrow. In combination with long-term liquid culture of marro
w cells in vitro, DBP purged autologous bone marrow transplantation ha
s first been applied to a case of acute myeloid leukemia at the first
complete remission with successful reconstitution of hematopoiesis.