The effect of lithium chloride on granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) and clonogenic leukaemic blasts (CFU-L) in the cultures in vitro.

The influence of lithium chloride on the proliferation of normal granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) and clonogenic blasts (CFU-L) from patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in the semisolid cultures in vitro was investigated. It was observed that while lithium chloride with the concentration of 2 mmol/l increases the number of CFU-GM colonies, it does not increase the number of CFU-L colonies and clusters. Our studies indicate that lithium salts can be used for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia after intensive chemotherapy.