Application of rapid CD3 immunophenotype analysis and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) frequency to fine needle aspirate specimens from dogs with lymphoma.

Determinations of CD3 immunoreactivity (CD3-IR) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AGNOR) frequency from fine needle aspirate (FNA) samples were compared with those from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical biopsy samples in 51 dogs with lymphoma. Both CD3-IR (using a rapid EPOS polymer system) and AGNOR techniques were readily applied to FNA samples. CD3-IR from FNA samples matched those of histologic samples with 100% concordance. A linear relationship (r=0.981; P<0.001) was found between AGNOR frequency obtained from FNA samples and those obtained from surgical biopsy samples. Application of the techniques presented here should allow clinically relevant information to be procured rapidly and inexpensively. As CD3-IR and AGNOR frequency have been shown to be predictive of response to combination chemotherapy in dogs with lymphoma, such information could be used to better educate clients as to the likelihood of achieving meaningful responses, as well as allowing prospective tailoring of individual treatments in future trials prior to initiating therapy.