[Experimental bases of the in vitro treatment of leukemic bone marrow by a derivative of cyclophosphamide: ASTA Z 7557].

The authors report their experience with the ASTA Z 7557, a derivative of cyclophosphamide, for the in vitro treatment of leukemic bone marrows. They determined the sensitivity of human leukemic progenitors (CFU-L, n = 9) and normal progenitors studied in semi-solid media cultures (CFU-GM, n = 37; BFU-e, n = 11) and in long term marrow culture (pré-CFU-GM n = 41). Data establish: The inhibition of the in vitro proliferation of CFU-L by ASTA Z 7557. The similar sensitivity of CFU-L and normal CFU-GM. The respect, at doses toxic on CFU-L and CFU-GM, of more primitive stem cells, capable of self-renewing and the existence of correlation between the intensiveness of treatment and the regeneration capacity of CFU-GM; therefore, they defined a maximum tolerable dose which spares 5 +/- 5% CFU-GM (DL 95) after treatment. The existence of a wide range susceptibility from patient to patient which requires the determination of the DL 95 for each individual patient.