ENHANCED OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION AND FATTY-ACID METABOLISM IN RAT BONE-MARROW WITH ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

The metabolism of bone marrow cells during the development of acute pr omyelocytic leukaemia has only been scarcely characterized, even thoug h such knowledge might improve our understanding of the mechanisms of leukemogenesis as well as of drug treatment failure. We have investiga ted the in vitro oxygen consumption and the metabolism of palmitate in rat bone marrow cells during development of acute promyelocytic leuka emia. As the leukaemia progressed, the cellular oxygen consumption, th e beta-oxidation of palmitate and the incorporation of palmitate into phospholipids all increased markedly. Cyclophosphamide supplement led to a temporary reduction of the palmitate metabolism, but did not lowe r the increased oxygen consumption, We conclude that the cellular meta bolic rate is elevated during the progression of acute promyelocytic l eukaemia, and that this might reflect an enhanced proliferative rate o f the malignant cells.