'Early detection of cancer by DNA methylation phenotyping of sputum-derived cells'.

摘要

In certain embodiments, this application discloses methods for detecting lung cancer. The method includes the characterization of cells extracted from human sputum, which is a valuable tissue replacement and source of upper airway cells that become cancerous early in the process of developing lung cancer. The method includes staining cells extracted with fluorescent reporters that produce a specific pattern on labeled cell nuclei, which can become visible by light microscopy. The pattern is relevant for a type of epigenetic DNA coding known as DNA methylation, which changes into specific lung cells during cancer development compared to normal respiratory cells.