Forty-seven human leukaemia/lymphoma cell lines belonging to myelocytic, monocytic, non-T/non-B, T-, and B-lineage and representing different levels of maturation as well as fresh cells from normal and leukaemic subjects were examined for immunological markers and cytochemically for acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (pH 5.8 and 8.0), alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase (pH 5.8 and 8.0), non-specific esterase, chloroacetate esterase, chymotrypsin-like protease, deoxyribonuclease II, beta-glucuronidase, sudan black, and periodic acid Schiff's staining. This evidence concerns the gene CTRL and leukemia.