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The leukaemia and allied disorders registry of the cancer council of western australia
72
THE COLLEGE OF PATHOLOGISTS OF AUSTRALIA
THE LEUKAEMIA AND ALLIED DISORDERS REGISTRY OF THE CANCER COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
DOUGAN, L. & h h m w s , M . L. J. Cancer Council of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia In April 1959, a panel for the study of neoplastic disorders of bone marrow and lymphoid tissue was established in Westem Australia which later became known as the Leukaemia and Allied Disorders Committee. The method of study adopted is to collect relevant information about each patient according to a comprehensive pro forma which includes sections on sociological, clinical and pathological aspects. Notification of cases is voluntary and relatively complete since there is representation on the committee from all diagnostic laboratories in the state. Once notified, the patient’s name is placed on a register and with permission from both patient and attending doctors detailed information is sought and recorded. Follow-up is made on an annual basis in all cases and in a more detailed fashion when information is available. The validity of the diagnosis comes under scrutiny in every case by a subgroup of practising pathologists (12 members). The data from the first 5 yr. of the registry (509 cases) was tabulated using a punch card system, and presented with explanatory text, tables and figures in 1968. Patterns similar to those in other Western countries were found. Noteworthy features were an increased incidence of some of the disorders among European migrants and increased urban over rural rates independent of diversity in age structures of the groups. It has now been decided to analyse 10 yr. work taking in 1960 to 1969. This comprises 1,387 cases and their data are being prepared for computer analysis. Data from the registry are available to any doctor wishing to studyaspects of these disorders and has been used by research workers investigating leukaemogenic effects of phenylbutazone and the association of rheumatic disorders with the leukaemias. Other subgroups of the Leukaemia and Allied Disorders Committee have used registry information and facilities in the carrying out of treatment trials in chronic granulocytic leukaemia, polycythaemia Vera and multiple myeloma and in cytogenic studies of the disorders. HAEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL KINETICS I N EXPERIMENTAL HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA
HODGSON, G.
Biological Research Unit, Cancer Institute, Melbourne, Victoria
The erythropoietin response, and exo- and endocolonization assays were used in a study of stem cell kinetics of rodents with experimental (phenylhydrazine) haemolytic anaemia. A 10 to 20-fold increase in spleen stem cell content which reached a maximum 5 days after initiation of treatment was observed. Blood stem cell content also increased to a maximum at that time. Femoral stem cell content did not change. Responsiveness to erythropoietin increased, especially to higher doses, and this increase was apparent also in splenectomized animals. Mice pretreated with phenylhydrazine, and then X-irradiated had high RBC 5sFeuptakes and showed spleens with numerous confluent nodules 9 days after irradiation with doses as high as 750r. Mice only X-irradiated showed few (1-2) nodules and no significant RBC 5gFe uptake with doses of X-rays as low as 550r. The radio-sensitivity of spleen cells from phenylhydrazinetreated mice was not different from that of normal mice (D3,,66r). T h e self-renewal capacity of cells in spleens of phenylhydrazine-treated X-irradiated mice was low. Judging from the effects of cytotoxic agents such as hydroxyurea and Vinblastine both in normal and phenylhydrazine-treated mice spleen stem cells were in cell cycle. Most marrow cells in normal and phenylhydrazine-treated mice were in the Go phase. ’NORMAL‘ HAEMATOLOGICAL VALUES I N WESTERN AUSTRALIA DAVIS, R. E., KELSALL,R. A., STENHOUSE,N. S.& WOODLIFF, H. J. Department of Haematology, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia
[t is desirable for every laboratory to establish ‘normal’ values for the community which it serves, as a basis for recognizing what is abnormal. The normal values found in textbooks do not necessarily reflect the local scene and are often based on work carried out many years ago. The authors decided to establish a range of haematological values in their laboratory, based on a sample of the ‘normal’ population. One hundred and forty males and 140 females judged to be normal by personal questioning and appear-
THE COLLEGE OF PATHOLOGISTS OF AUSTRALIA
THE LEUKAEMIA AND ALLIED DISORDERS REGISTRY OF THE CANCER COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
DOUGAN, L. & h h m w s , M . L. J. Cancer Council of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia In April 1959, a panel for the study of neoplastic disorders of bone marrow and lymphoid tissue was established in Westem Australia which later became known as the Leukaemia and Allied Disorders Committee. The method of study adopted is to collect relevant information about each patient according to a comprehensive pro forma which includes sections on sociological, clinical and pathological aspects. Notification of cases is voluntary and relatively complete since there is representation on the committee from all diagnostic laboratories in the state. Once notified, the patient’s name is placed on a register and with permission from both patient and attending doctors detailed information is sought and recorded. Follow-up is made on an annual basis in all cases and in a more detailed fashion when information is available. The validity of the diagnosis comes under scrutiny in every case by a subgroup of practising pathologists (12 members). The data from the first 5 yr. of the registry (509 cases) was tabulated using a punch card system, and presented with explanatory text, tables and figures in 1968. Patterns similar to those in other Western countries were found. Noteworthy features were an increased incidence of some of the disorders among European migrants and increased urban over rural rates independent of diversity in age structures of the groups. It has now been decided to analyse 10 yr. work taking in 1960 to 1969. This comprises 1,387 cases and their data are being prepared for computer analysis. Data from the registry are available to any doctor wishing to studyaspects of these disorders and has been used by research workers investigating leukaemogenic effects of phenylbutazone and the association of rheumatic disorders with the leukaemias. Other subgroups of the Leukaemia and Allied Disorders Committee have used registry information and facilities in the carrying out of treatment trials in chronic granulocytic leukaemia, polycythaemia Vera and multiple myeloma and in cytogenic studies of the disorders. HAEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL KINETICS I N EXPERIMENTAL HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA
HODGSON, G.
Biological Research Unit, Cancer Institute, Melbourne, Victoria
The erythropoietin response, and exo- and endocolonization assays were used in a study of stem cell kinetics of rodents with experimental (phenylhydrazine) haemolytic anaemia. A 10 to 20-fold increase in spleen stem cell content which reached a maximum 5 days after initiation of treatment was observed. Blood stem cell content also increased to a maximum at that time. Femoral stem cell content did not change. Responsiveness to erythropoietin increased, especially to higher doses, and this increase was apparent also in splenectomized animals. Mice pretreated with phenylhydrazine, and then X-irradiated had high RBC 5sFeuptakes and showed spleens with numerous confluent nodules 9 days after irradiation with doses as high as 750r. Mice only X-irradiated showed few (1-2) nodules and no significant RBC 5gFe uptake with doses of X-rays as low as 550r. The radio-sensitivity of spleen cells from phenylhydrazinetreated mice was not different from that of normal mice (D3,,66r). T h e self-renewal capacity of cells in spleens of phenylhydrazine-treated X-irradiated mice was low. Judging from the effects of cytotoxic agents such as hydroxyurea and Vinblastine both in normal and phenylhydrazine-treated mice spleen stem cells were in cell cycle. Most marrow cells in normal and phenylhydrazine-treated mice were in the Go phase. ’NORMAL‘ HAEMATOLOGICAL VALUES I N WESTERN AUSTRALIA DAVIS, R. E., KELSALL,R. A., STENHOUSE,N. S.& WOODLIFF, H. J. Department of Haematology, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia
[t is desirable for every laboratory to establish ‘normal’ values for the community which it serves, as a basis for recognizing what is abnormal. The normal values found in textbooks do not necessarily reflect the local scene and are often based on work carried out many years ago. The authors decided to establish a range of haematological values in their laboratory, based on a sample of the ‘normal’ population. One hundred and forty males and 140 females judged to be normal by personal questioning and appear-