No abstract

Tumor cells obtained from leukemia and lymphoma patients were investigated for specific insulin receptors. Using radioactive 125I- labeled insulin, specific insulin binding sites were demonstrated on most acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) cells, including acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), and acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL) cells. Insulin receptors were not found on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and malignant lymphoma (ML) cells. Specific insulin binding sites were also found on monocytes and thymocytes after treatment with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P), but not on inactivated tonsil cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, or thymocytes. There was no inverse correlation between the content of insulin receptors and the basal level of circulating insulin. These data suggest that the insulin receptor may be a new marker of acute leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia.

Persistent lymphocytosis and intermittent fever were found in a 68‐yr‐old Chinese woman 5 yr after the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A series of examinations ‐ including virology, bone marrow aspiration and surface markers of lymphocytes ‐ was made to evaluate the nature of the lymphocytosis which had not been found previously. All of the results were consistent with the diagnosis of B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Development of CLL in Sjögren's syndrome has seldom been described before and mey be added to other malignancies associated with Sjögren's syndrome.