GRANULOCYTE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR AND ITS RECEPTOR IN ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor ( G-CSFR) and in vitro proliferative response to G-CSF were investigated by quantitative immunofluorescence and [H-3] thymidine uptake, respec tively, in a series of acute myeloid leukemias (AML), The results indi cated that G-CSFR was detected at high levels in acute promyelocytic l eukemia (APL) cells, in comparison with other types of AML, Moreover, APL cells were also seen to predominantly proliferate in response to G -CSF, Based on these observations, we administered recombinant human G -CSF to a patient with APL in the third relapse that was resistant to both cytotoxic agents and all trans retinoic acid, in an attempt to se nsitize the leukemic cells to cell-cycle-dependent agents. Complete re mission was achieved. The finding that APL cells are exquisitely respo nsive to G-CSF supports the view that G-CSF is useful for augmentation of their vulnerability to cell-cycle specific agents. (C) 1998 Wiley- Liss, Inc.