ABSTRACT
The identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is clinically important for diagnosing cancer. We have previously developed a size-based filtration platform followed by epithelial cell adhesion molecule immunofluorescence staining for detecting CTCs. To characterize CTCs independently of cell surface protein expression, we incorporated a chromosomal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay to detect abnormal copy numbers of chromosomes in cells collected from peripheral blood samples by the size-based filtration platform. Aneuploid cells were detected in the peripheral blood of patients with lung cancer. Unexpectedly, aneuploid cells were also detected in the control group, which consisted of peripheral blood samples from patients with benign lung diseases, such as empyema necessitatis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. These findings suggest that chromosomal abnormalities are observed not only in tumor cells, but also in benign infectious diseases. Thus, our findings present new considerations and bring into light the possibility of false positives when using FISH for cancer diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Aneuploidy , Chromosome Aberrations , Communicable Diseases , Diagnosis , Empyema , Epithelial Cells , Filtration , Fluorescence , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , In Situ Hybridization , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Lung Diseases , Lung Neoplasms , Lung , Neoplastic Cells, CirculatingABSTRACT
There was an error in the article. Chung-Hee Sonn (Ph.D.) should have been listed as a co-corresponding author but Jhingook Kim was listed as the sole corresponding author of the article. Therefore, we ask to correct that both Chung-Hee Sonn and Jhingook Kim are co-corresponding authors.