title: BMVC test, an improved fluorescence assay for detection of malignant pleural effusions.
abstract: The diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions is an important issue in the management of malignancy patients. Generally, cytologic examination is a routine diagnostic technique. However, morphological interpretation of cytology is sometimes inconclusive. Here an ancillary method named BMVC test is developed for rapid detection of malignant pleural effusion to improve the diagnostic accuracy at low cost. A simple assay kit is designed to collect living cells from clinical pleural effusion and a fluorescence probe, 3,6-Bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium) carbazole diiodide (BMVC), is used to illuminate malignant cells. The fluorescence intensity is quantitatively analyzed by ImageJ program. This method yields digital numbers for the test results without any grey zone or ambiguities in the current cytology tests due to intra-observer and inter-observer variability. Comparing with results from double-blind cytologic examination, this simple test gives a good discrimination between malignant and benign specimens with sensitivity of 89.4% (42/47) and specificity of 93.3% (56/60) for diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. BMVC test provides accurate results in a short time period, and the digital output could assist cytologic examination to become more objective and clear-cut. This is a convenient ancillary tool for detection of malignant pleural effusions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 106, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Ting
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chi-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Wei-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chiung-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei-Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pei-Jen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Jin-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Hao-Chien
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huey-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tzu-Hsiu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: I-Shiow
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Ta-Chau
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D002227:Carbazoles; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds
chemical_list: C520417:1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium; C486012:3,6-bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridium)carbazole diiodide; D002227:Carbazoles; D011726:Pyridinium Compounds
keywords: Cell-collecting; fluorescence probe; malignant pleural effusions