Radiation-induced remissions in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Excellent remissions have been attained in symptomatic but previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The primary therapy has consisted of total body irradiation using intensive fractionated dosage schedules. In four of six consecutive patients, the differential blood counts on both the peripheral blood and bone marrow smears returned to normal following treatment. Supportive blood transfusions were not required for bone marrow depression and a nonhemolytic anemia in three patients was corrected by irradiation. Symptomatic improvement consistently occurred and the in vitro transformation of cultured lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin returned to normal limits in several patients studied. Review of the medical literature clearly documents the rarity of such remissions in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These results indicate the treatment described is one of the most effective therapies yet reported for induction of remission of this disease.