Objective: A procedure was developed to allow concurrent detection of chromosome aberrations and identification of bronchial epithelial cells.
Study design: Fluorescence in situ hybridization for chromosome 7 and immunocytochemistry for cytokeratin were performed on exfoliated bronchial epithelial cells in a sputum sample from a cancer patient.
Results: The Spectrum Orange-labeled alpha satellite probe for chromosome 7 produced red fluorescence, nuclei were counterstained with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (blue), and cytokeratin was visualized using a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated secondary antibody (green).
Conclusion: This procedure allowed the rapid identification of airway epithelial cells with numerical chromosome aberrations in this sample. Ultimately, this procedure could increase the sensitivity and specificity of sputum cytology as a laboratory diagnostic tool for the early detection of lung cancer.