CONCURRENT FLUORESCENCE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND IMMUNOCYTOCHEMISTRYFOR THE DETECTION OF CHROMOSOME-ABERRATIONS IN EXFOLIATED BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS

OBJECTIVE: A procedure was developed to allow concurrent detection of chromosome aberrations and identification of bronchial epithelial cell s. STUDY DESIGN: Fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosome 7 a nd immunocytochemistry for cytokeratin were performed on exfoliated br onchial epithelial cells in a sputum sample from a cancer patient. RES ULTS: The Spectrum Orange-labeled alpha satellite probe for chromosome 7 produced red fluorescence, nuclei were counter-stained with 4,6-dia midino-2-phenylindole (blue), and cytokeratin was visualized using a f luorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated secondary antibody (green) . CONCLUSION: This procedure allowed the rapid identification of airwa y epithelial cells with numerical chromosome aberrations in this sampl e. Ultimately, this procedure could increase the sensitivity and speci ficity of sputum cytology as a laboratory diagnostic tool for the earl y detection of lung cancer.