Nuclear DNA-polymerase estimation in human leukaemic myeloblasts.

A technique which detects the presence of DNA-polymerase in cell nuclei by measuring the incorporation of 3H-thymidine-5-triphosphate (3H-TTP) has been used to estimate the proportion of leukaemic myeloblasts which contains DNA-polymerase and DNA capable of acting as primer-template. In six cases of previously untreated acute myeloid leukaemia the 3H-TTP labelling index (3H-TTP LI) was much larger than the fraction in DNA synthesis. After a single 'flash' injection of cytosine arabinoside a pronounced decline was observed in the 3H-TTP LI, which can be explained by a direct inhibition of NDA-polymerase. No change was observed in the fraction of cells labelled with 3H-thymidine. A decrease in 3H-TTP LI was also observed after a single i.v. dose of methotrexate.