Prognostic role of non-neoplastic lymphocytes in lymph node aspirates from dogs with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with chemo-immunotherapy

Publication date: Available online 11 June 2019Source: Research in Veterinary ScienceAuthor(s): Valeria Martini, Luca Aresu, Fulvio Riondato, Laura Marconato, Marzia Cozzi, Damiano Stefanello, Stefano ComazziAbstractDogs with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) benefit from the addition of active immunotherapy to traditional chemotherapy. We hypothesized that immune cells within neoplastic lymph nodes (LNs) may play a role in the tumor pathobiology and treatment response.The present study describes the composition and prognostic role of non-neoplastic lymphocytes in LNs of 59 dogs with treatment-naive DLBCL receiving chemo-immunotherapy.The percentage of small non-neoplastic cells and of CD5+, CD21+, CD4+ and CD8+ small cells was recorded via flow cytometry. CD4+/CD8+ and CD5+/large CD21+ cell ratios were calculated.The likelihood of progression significantly diminished with increasing percentage of small cells, CD5+ and CD8+ small cells, and CD5+/large CD21+ cell ratio, with decreasing CD4+/CD8+ ratio and in non-anemic dogs.Active immunotherapy is more effective in dogs with higher percentage of non-neoplastic lymphocytes at diagnosis. We lay the ground for future studies assessing the role of the immune system in the pathobiology of canine DLBCL.
Source: Research in Veterinary Science - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research