Mechanisms of resistance to chlorambucil in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The postulated biochemical mechanisms responsible for clinical resistance to chlorambucil (CLB) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been examined. The total sulfhydryl, non-protein-bound sulfhydryl, protein-bound sulfhydryl (PSH) and glutathione (GSH) levels, in addition to glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, were measured in the leukemic cells of 18 CLL patients. In addition, the formation and repair of DNA cross-links were measured following incubation of the cells with 100 microM chlorambucil in vitro. These parameters were then correlated with the subsequent clinical responses of the patients, as measured by the percent fall in lymphocyte count 3 weeks following 0.9 mg/kg chlorambucil. No correlations were observed between any of the individual parameters and clinical response, although a slight positive correlation was observed between the PSH:GSH ratio and clinical response. These findings suggest that multiple mechanisms may contribute to CLB-resistance in CLL.