3p22.1 and 10q22.3 Deletions Detected by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH): A Potential New Tool for Early Detection of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Deletions of the 3p22.1 and 10q22.3 regions can be reliably detected by FISH. As one progresses from the contralateral normal bronchus to the bronchus on the side of tumor and the tumor itself, the percentage of chromosomal deletions increases in a statistically significant fashion. This suggests that, FISH analysis of bronchoscopic brushes may be useful for identifying patients at high risk for developing non-small cell lung cancer.