Prognostic factors for treated canine malignant lymphoma

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic importance of different clinical, immunohistologic and tumor proliferation characteristics in dogs with malignant lymphoma treated with chemotherapy. From 74 dogs with malignant lymphoma at least one enlarged peripheral lymph node was taken for biopsy before chemotherapy following a standardized protocol (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone, doxorubicin, and L-asparaginase). The variables evaluated as prognostic factors were age, sex, and tumor stage, as well as histomorphologic grade (Kiel classification, Working Formulation), immunophenotype (using markers for CD3 and CD79a), and cell proliferation (Ki-67, proliferation cell nuclear antigen, mitotic index, and argyrophil nucleolar organizer regions [AgNORs]) in extirpated lymph nodes. All markers were used on routinely formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. The AgNORs were assessed qualitatively, based on the AgNOR pattern distribution, and quantitatively using image analysis and routine counting. In both univariate and multivariate survival analyses, AgNORs were a valuable prognostic marker for the treatment of canine malignant lymphomas. Based on the results of the multivariate analysis longer survival time correlated with a B-cell type, a larger mean AgNOR area, a larger total AgNOR area, a shorter distance between two AgNORs, and a smaller AgNOR area to nucleus ratio. Longer disease-free survival time correlated with a smaller number of AgNORs per nucleus, a larger mean AgNOR area, a larger maximal AgNOR area, and a larger total AgNOR area. This study clearly demonstrates the additional benefit of the use of AgNORs in predicting treatment outcome in dogs with malignant lymphoma.