Method and probe set for detecting cancer

Abstract

Methods for detecting cancer that include hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample obtained from a patient, and identifying if aneusomic cells are present in a selected subset of cells obtained from the biological sample are described. A set of chromosomal probes and kits for detecting cancer that include sets of chromosomal probes, are also described.

1 . A method of screening for cancer in a subject comprising:
 (a) hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample from said subject, wherein said set of probes consists of three or four chromosomal probes, wherein two of said chromosomal probes are centromeric chromosomal probes to chromosomes 3 and 7; and   (b) determining the presence or absence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample by examining the hybridization pattern of said set of probes, wherein the presence of aneusomic cells in the biological sample is indicative of cancer in said subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, sputum, peritoneal fluid, bladder washings, oral washings, tissue samples, touch preps, and fine-needle aspirates. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is concentrated. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is urine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is selected from the group consisting of bladder cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cancer, and leukemia. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is bladder cancer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said chromosomal probes are fluorescently labeled. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set consists of three chromosomal probes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set consists of chromosomal probes 3, 7, and 17. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set consists of four chromosomal probes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hybridization pattern is examined in a plurality of cytologically abnormal cells. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , said method further comprising selecting cells from said biological sample and determining the presence or absence of aneusomic cells in said selected cells by examining the hybridization pattern of said set of chromosomal probes in each of said selected cells, wherein the presence of aneusomic cells in said selected cells is indicative of cancer in said patient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein cells are selected by nuclear morphology. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein cells are selected by nuclear size. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein cells are selected by shape of nucleus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein nuclear morphology is assessed by DAPI staining 
     
     
         17 . A method of screening for cancer in a subject comprising:
 (a) hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample from said subject, wherein said set of probes comprises at least two centromeric chromosomal probes to chromosomes 3 and 7; and   (b) determining the presence or absence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample by examining the hybridization pattern of said set of probes in a plurality of cytologically abnormal cells, wherein the presence of aneusomic cells in the biological sample is indicative of cancer in said subject.