DETECTION OF CHROMOSOMAL ANEUPLOIDY BY INTERPHASE FLUORESCENCE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION IN BRONCHOSCOPICALLY GAINED CELLS FROM LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS

Background: Development and progression of human malignancies involve multiple genetic changes, New techniques to distinguish neoplastic fro m benign diseases unequivocally with small amounts of cells as gained by bronchoscopy are needed to come closer to the goal of an early diag nosis in lung cancer. Study objective: The aim of this study was to de termine whether interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) c an be used to visualize chromosomal aberrations in bronchoscopically g ained cells from lung cancer patients and could eventually become a co mplementary technique to conventional cytology. Methods: We examined 2 0 cancerous specimens (10 primary tumors, 10 malignant effusions) of 1 8 lung cancer patients by FISH with DNA probes specific for chromosome s 3, 8, 11, 12, 17, and 18, From five additional patients, endobronchi al brushings and/or forceps biopsy specimens were subjected to interph ase FISH analysis. Results: In all primary tumors and malignant effusi ons, highly aneuploid cells were detectable by FISH. Chromosomal aberr ations always consisted of gains of chromosomal signal numbers, and al l chromosomes were found to be aneuploid to a similar extent, Using ch romosomal aneuploidy as a marker of malignancy, material obtained by b ronchoscopy was then examined for the presence of malignant cells, In all specimens, evidence for malignancy was obtained by FISH, including three specimens in which cells appeared to be normal or reactively ch anged by cytologic criteria. Conclusion: We conclude that interphase F ISH is useful in detecting aneuploidy associated with malignancy in br onchoscopically gained cells that do not clearly meet the criteria of malignancy by conventional cytologic study.