CYTOPHAGOCYTOSIS BY THE BLAST CELLS IN ACUTE MYELOID-LEUKEMIA

The occurrence of cytophagocytosis as spontaneous ingestion of cells b y blast cells has been poorly investigated in acute leukemia. Cytophag ocytosis by blasts in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was observed in ele ven patients who represent 1% of AML cases seen in our institution (on e M1, two M2, four M4 and four M5). Prominent features of cytophagocyt osis by AML blasts are particularly evident in leukemias involving mon ocytic cells and were more obvious in the bone marrow than the periphe ral blood. AML of the monocytic type with cytophagocytosis are frequen tly associated with cytogenetic aberrations involving chromosomes 8 an d 16. Finally the poor outcome of AML patients with cytophagocytosis a nd their poor response to therapy and short survival is stressed.