Murine myeloid leukemia: I. Pathophysiology and drug sensitivity.

The pathophysiology of serially passaged myeloid leukemia of the RFM mouse was studied. The disease was characterized by progressive splenomegaly and infiltration of both marrow and spleen by myeloblasts. The animals became anemic and there was an associated erythroid hyperplasia in the spleen. Leukemic spleen cells obtained from animals early in the course of the leukemia were less malignant than those obtained from preterminal mice. The leukemia is most sensitive to alkylating agents but is also responsive to antimetabolites.