Use of Flow Cytometry in Clinical Diagnosis of Malignancies and Disorders of
the Immune System
Flow
cytometry (FC) has proven to be a useful addition to the
methods available for the diagnosis of malignancies and
disorders of the immune system in human medicine. The
ability to assess multiple parameters simultaneously sets FC
apart from other diagnostic technologies. Combined with the
use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) it is been possible to
characterize complex populations of cells based on
differences in cell size, light scattering characteristics
and differences in the expression of one or more membrane
molecules on cell subsets. This precision of phenotyping
cells has facilitated distinction between neoplastic and
benign conditions, diagnosis and classification of lymphomas
and leukemias, the assessment of other neoplastic and pre-neoplastic
disorders such as plasma cell dyscrasias and myeloblastic
syndromes and the detection of minimal residual disease in
patients with acute leukemia or chronic lymphoid leukemia.
The high degree of accuracy and sensitivity has helped
minimize the inherent uncertainties of diagnosis by
microscopy.
The development of equivalent mAbs for use in food and companion
animals now affords an opportunity to extend the technology to
veterinary medicine. One of the goals of the NACCA is to develop a
diagnostic service to aid clinicians in the diagnosis of
malignancies and the determination of what therapeutic strategies
should be employed to control the malignancy. A fully operational
flow cytometry facility has been
developed in the College of Veterinary Medicine for use in research
and clinical medicine. Sets of mAbs have been developed for use with
cats, dogs, horses, lamas, cattle, goats, sheep, and other species
such as rabbits. Additional mAbs have been made by other
investigators and are available commercially or through direct
contact with the originator of the mAbs.
Service fees and donations will be used to develop and maintain the
clinical service. The program will afford an opportunity for
training residents and students in the use of FC to distinguish
various types of malignancies and determine the effect of
chemotherapy on function of the immune system.
Written by
Dr William Davis, Washington State University.
