Clonality in the non-neoplastic T cell population was investigated in 21 patients with B cell chronic leukemic (B-CLL) or multiple myeloma (MM) by probing for TCR beta chain gene rearrangements using Southern blot analysis. In three patients with a benign form of B-CLL (stage 0), and in one patient with smoldering MM, evidence was found for predominant T cell clones. As cellular immunity against the malignant cells may be important in leukemia, the results are discussed in view of the potential role of T cell immunity in B-CLL and MM.
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