Clonal growth of leukaemic cells in vitro.

Human leukaemic cell specimens were obtained from patients and directly plated into soft agar (t = 0) or cultured for 1 week in liquid phase and then plated in soft agar. Growth for 1 week in liquid phase allowed the clonal growth in agar of leukaemic specimens which were unable to clone at t = 0. Clonal growth after liquid culture consisted of the usual leukaemic type of cluster-colonies, growth of a new type of 'syncytial' cell colony or a mixture of colony types. In addition, marrow from a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia produced normal-appearing colonies after 1 week of growth in liquid phase. These studies suggest a similarity in the growth requirements of some leukaemic cells and normal CFUd cells.