Synchronization of the Mitotic Cycle in Acute Leukaemia

Abstract

THE proliferating cells of the leukaemic population in acute leukaemia have been found to be randomly distributed throughout the mitotic cycle¹. Most chemotherapeutic agents effective in this disease act principally on one phase of the mitotic cycle. Therapy might be more effective if leukaemic cells were synchronized in a sensitive phase to produce the most susceptible cells for another mitotic cycle-dependent drug. A segment of leukaemic cells in the s phase of the mitotic cycle can be synchronized in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after a single injection of cytosine arabinoside². We have used cytosine arabinoside to synchronize cells in the s phase of the mitotic cycle for subsequent administration of vincristine.