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The much less than Quantigen T and B Cell Assay much greater than method is used to evaluate T and B lymphocyte levels, Nuls Cells and monocytes in the peripheral venous blood of patients surgically treated for breast cancer. The results obtained show a change in immune competent cell levels and temporary immune restoration of the immune response during treatment with immunostimulators.

OKT3 (10-100 pg/ml) still induces IL-2 responsiveness, while being unable to induce IL-2 production and lymphocyte proliferation, unless exogenous IL-2 is added. This property has been used in order to evaluate and quantify the IL-2 on various cell culture supernatants. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) or T cells purified from blood units have been incubated with various concentrations of OKT3 and used as cell target for the quantitation of putative IL-2 containing media. The anti-TAC monoclonal antibody has also been used as internal control in the assay. The procedure suggested seems to be reliable and simpler than the method, currently employed in the IL-2 assay; MNC or T-cells treated with OKT3 proliferate in response to exogenous IL-2 and do not if the anti-TAC monoclonal antibody is previously added. Results are presented and discussed.