Lymphocyte transformation in cancer patients: variation in results according to technique

Lymphocyte transformation to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was measured simultaneously by two methods (heparin and methyl cellulose) in 16 patients with non-lymphoid cancer and 21 normal subjects. Twelve cancer patients showed transformation levels below the normal heparin range, but only two patients showed levels below the normal methyl cellulose range. These findings suggest that in interpreting lymphocyte transformation studies close attention should be given to the methods employed.