Leukemic progression as process of adaptation (theoretical model).

On the basis of an assumption that leukemic progression is a process of adaptation of normal hemopoiesis to the effect of the leukemic clone, a theoretical model of leukemia development is built. General conclusions are as follows: the possibility of reaching remission depends upon suppression of normal hemopoiesis by cytostatics in a system of two cell populations: the duration of remission depends upon suppression of the leukemic clone; the quantity of blast cells of marrow in remission can exceed 5 per cent.