The influence of prior total body irradiation on the tissue distribution of mouse lymphoma/leukemia.

The effect of a single dose of 10 Gy X rays on the distribution of subsequently injected mouse lymphoma/leukemia cells was studied. The organ distribution of an acute myeloid leukemia (A46) was not affected by prior (90 days) administration of 10 Gy X rays. A T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (A55) and a B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (A31) produced enhanced infiltration of the lung when 10 Gy of total body irradiation (TBI) was given 90 days before the tumor cells. The infiltration was predominantly in the peribronchiolar and perivascular spaces. Enhancement was not seen in any tissues other than lung. The possibility is raised that in those acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients whose treatment includes TBI, residual circulating cells may be encouraged to infiltrate the lung.