title: Identification of features of metaplastic cells in sputum for the detection of squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung.
abstract: Digitized images of 1,556 squamous metaplastic cells from the sputum of 15 patients with confirmed squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung and 13 subjects without apparent neoplasia were analyzed to determine if features existed within these relatively normal cells that could be used to differentiate between the two populations. Results indicate that such marker features do exist. A cross-validation study using an additional 465 cells confirmed the conclusion that squamous metaplastic cells from patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung do differ from those of subjects without cancer. While such marker features alone are not reliable enough to assist pathologists in the diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung, they might, in sufficient numbers, be used to identify patients for whom follow-up testing would be advised.
authors.affiliation: Educational Psychology Department, University of Houston, TX.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Swank
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Spjut
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Trahan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montalvo
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008679:Metaplasia; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor