Quantitative morphological analysis of adriamycin-resistant human K562 leukemic cells

The morphological changes associated with Adriamycin resistance in a human leukemic cell line have been investigated by image analysis. An Adriamycin-resistant subline of the human erythroleukemic K562 cell line has been established. Three sets of cells have been analysed: sensitive cells, resistant cells cultured in the continuous presence of Adriamycin, and resistant cells cultured without the drug. Image analysis shows that Adriamycin-resistant K562 cells display significant morphological changes as compared with sensitive cells, at both the nuclear and cytoplasmic levels. These changes make it possible to separate sensitive and resistant cells automatically and with a classification accuracy of 76% and only four cytological parameters. Image analysis may therefore offer an interesting tool for studying drug resistance in leukemic cells, from both an experimental and a clinical point of view.