DNA-based sputum cell image analysis for lung cancer in a clinical setting

OBJECTIVE: To measure cell nuclei characteristics, previously reported to express probability for lung cancer, in subjects with different forms ofpulmonary disease and those without disease. STUDY DESIGN: Sputum and buccal cell samples were obtained from 846 patients without pulmonary disease, with nonmalignant disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asbestosis and lung cancer, stained for DNA, scanned by cytometer and scored. This was related to specificity and sensitivity for lung cancer. At score 4.5 sensitivity was 53.8% and specificity 70.9%. This score and higher were defined as high scores (HS) and used to compare groups with lung cancer and other pulmonary disease. RESULTS: Among subjects without disease, 21.1% had HS in sputum cells. Among those with nonmalignant pulmonary disease, 31.7% had HS, and among subjects with lung cancer, 53.8% had it. Repeated evaluations showed that about one third of those with HS on the first occasion were normal on repeat sampling. Among subjects without lung cancer, 33.8% of never-smokers had sputum cell HS compared to 22.7.2% among smokers. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate that the DNA cellular characteristics on cytometry were more frequent among subjects with lung cancer but also among subjects with other pulmonary disease compared to subjects witbout pulmonary disease.