Chromosome breaks and fragile sites in leukemic bone marrow cells.

Bone marrow cells from leukemic and nonleukemic patients were examined for chromosome breakage in cultures treated with fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) and FUdR plus caffeine. The results indicate that the leukemic cells have more chromosome breakage than the nonleukemic cells when thymidylic synthetase is inhibited by FUdR. Addition of caffeine did not enhance this chromosome breakage. These findings of enhanced breakage by FUdR exposure in vitro, nevertheless, may suggest that leukemic cells in general are more susceptible to breakage than normal cells, thereby predisposing the former to secondary chromosome rearrangements.