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Cells exposed to light of appropriate wavelength show fluorescence emission in the UV-visible spectral range. This phenomenon, called natural fluorescence (NF), is related to cell compounds, i.e. proteins (1), nicotinic coenzymes (2), flavins (3), etc., engaged in structural and metabolic processes. Thus a correlation does exist between NF emission and morpho-functional state of cells.

Vinorelbine (VNR) is a new semi-synthetic Vinca rosea alkaloid that has been employed both in combination and as a single agent, showing a significant antitumour activity. Since little is known about VNR in human leukemia, we studied the in vitro cytotoxic effect of VNR on peripheral blood lymphocytes from 18 patients affected by B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), employing the INT assay. VNR inhibited fresh B-CLL cells from 15/18 patients in primary cultures, the ID50 doses ranging from 4 ng/ml to 83 μg/ml. These data strongly suggest that VNR could be effective in the treatment of B-CLL.