The effect of cryopreservation of lymphocytes on E rosetting ability: a study in lung cancer patients and controls

Two methods of measuring total T cell percentages have been used to assess the effect of freezing and storage on the ability of lymphocytes to form rosettes in blood transfusion donors, laboratory staff, patients awaiting surgery for non-malignant conditions and 48 preoperative lung cancer patients. A significant reduction in rosetting ability after freezing was found for the surgical patients group but not for the other groups. With frozen lymphocytes we have found the same significant decrease in the percentage of T cells seen with fresh lymphocytes when lung cancer patients are compared with the blood donor group. A significant difference in the percentage of T cells detected by the two assays with frozen lymphocytes was found in the control groups.