FLUORESCENT IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION ANALYSIS OF CERVICAL SMEARS - A PILOT-STUDY OF 20 CASES

The Papanicolaou smear has been established as a useful cytological sc reening tool that has greatly contributed to tile reduction of cervica l cancer related mortalities. This test, however, cannot reveal underl ying genetic damage, i.e., numerical and structural chromosomal abnorm alities that may predispose an individual to a future potentially life -threatening cervical neoplasm. An assay that has the ability to detec t genetic abnormalities in interphase cervical mucosal cells will be a useful complement to the Papanicolaou smear on cytological preparatio ns. The present project explores such a possibility using the techniqu e of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The chromosome 8 specif ic a-satellite probe is initially used because of our past experience in the validation of this probe in various cancers. The applicability of this assay, however, is not restricted to the use of this particula r probe. Data on our initial pilot study of 20 cases revealed that suc h an interphase FISH assay is indeed feasible as a potential future sc reening tool for cervical cancer.