Detection of Nonhematologic Neoplasms by Routine Flow Cytometry Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Objectives We investigated the ability of routine flow cytometry (FC) to detect nonhematologic neoplasms (non-HN) using antibody panels routinely used for the diagnosis of hematologic neoplasms. Methods FC analyses of 4,000 various diagnostic samples were retrospectively reviewed to identify cases in which an aberrant, viable CD45-negative, nonhematologic neoplastic population was detected by FC panels designed to evaluate hematologic neoplasms. Results A total of 57 (1.4%) diverse non-HNs were identified, representing neuroendocrine tumors (33/57) and carcinomas (9/57), as well as other malignancies (15/57) such as sarcoma and melanoma. The majority of neoplasms were positive for at least one antibody, typically CD56 (43/51, 84.3%), followed by CD117 (15/34, 44.1%) and CD138 (6/33, 18.2%). Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of carefully inspecting CD45-negative events to identify non-HNs by routine FC analysis. This can help expedite further downstream immunophenotypic analysis of specimens and triage samples for appropriate genetic and molecular studies.