Studies of lymphocyte-dependent antibodies to leukemia-associated antigens using frozen stored leukemia target cells.

The ability of frozen stored leukemia blast cells to participate in a lymphocyte-dependent antibody assay (LDA) is demonstrated. Frozen stored acute myelogenous and lymphocytic blast cells retained antigenicity and high viability (larger than or equal to 80%). High titer LDA reactivity against frozen stored leukemic blasts was demonstrated with heterologous (rabbit) and homologous (leukemic patient) antisera. Similarly, we demonstrated the ability of frozen stored peripheral blood mononuclear cells to mediate effectively the destruction of antibody-coated leukemia blast cells stored frozen in liquid nitrogen before use. These findings will facilitate the study of LDA and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in human leukemia patients using a completely autogeneic system.