The RNA-nucleotide composition of leukocytes from normal and leukemic patients has been analyzed. The amount of the four mononucleotides per 109 leukocytes is significantly increased in patients with either chronic lymphocytic or chronic granulocytic leukemia when compared with leukocytes from normal subjects. High values have been observed in acute granulocytic leukemia and during blastic crisis occurring in cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia. This suggests that the mononucleotide increase may be correlated with the number of blast cells. The molar base composition of the 4 mononucleotides and the ratio of 6-keto/6-amino acids and that of purine/pyrimidine bases in all leukemic cells examined were similar to the ratios occurring in normal leukocytes.

The significance of these findings, relative to the theory of viral origin of human leukemia, is discussed.

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© 1967 by American Society of Hematology, Inc.
1967
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