Summary of workshop on automation

LYMPHOCYTES from patients with malignant diseases can be differentiated from those of healthy donors or donors with non-malignant disorders on the basis of changes in the structuredness of cytoplasmic matrix (SCM) induced by cancer basic protein (CaBP), tumour-tissue associated antigens and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) (Cercek, Cercek and Garrett, 1 974b; Cercek, Cercek and Franklin, 1974a; Cercek and Cercek, 1975a, b). Changes in the SCM are measured on cell suspensions with the technique of fluorescence polarization in a fluorescence spectrophotometer of high sensitivity (Cercek, Cercek and Ockey, 1973). These measurements yield data on average changes in the SCM over whole cell populations, and cannot yield estimates of the percentages of cells which change their SCM on stimulation. We have, therefore, extended the technique of fluorescence polarization to measurements of changes in the SCM on single cells. This paper describes the SCM technique for single cells and presents data on SCM distributions and fractions of lymphocyte populations which respond to stimulations with CaBP and PHA in healthy donors and in patients with malignant disorders. AIATERIALS AND METHODS