Method and System for Automated Image Analysis in Cancer Cells
A method of screening for the presence and/or extent of a pathology in a subject, the pathology characterized by an abnormal chromosomal component in a cell of the subject, comprising the steps of: contacting a biological sample comprising cell nuclei from said subject with, one or more distinguishable labeled probes directed to at least one chromosomal sequence that characterizes the abnormality under conditions that promote hybridization of the one or more probes to the at least one sequence, automatically obtaining a representation of the one or more distinguishable labels hybridized to the chromosomal sequences, automatically analyzing the distribution and intensity of binding of the one or more labels in the representation to determine the presence and/or extent of an abnormal chromosomal component; and automatically reporting results of the analysis; wherein the steps are carried out without intervention by a human.
1 - 35 . (canceled)
36 . An automated method for detecting chromosomal abnormalities in a plurality of cells in a cervical sample, said method comprising:
a) hybridizing nucleic acid probes to a target, wherein the target comprises ADCY2, C5orf49, FASTKD3, MTRR, SEMA5a, or SNORD123;
b) detecting the hybridization signal of the nucleic acid probes, wherein the hybridization signal is indicative of chromosomal copy number for the target;
c) scoring the chromosomal copy number of the target; and
d) reporting whether the sample contains chromosomal abnormalities wherein an increase in chromosomal copy number is indicative of chromosomal abnormalities in the cells.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the scoring of the chromosomal copy number is performed by counting the cells having chromosomal abnormalities.
38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the scoring of the chromosomal copy number is performed by counting hybridization signals.
39 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the method is performed by using an automated microscope.
40 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the cells in said sample are deposited in a thin layer on a slide.
41 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the cells in said sample are deposited on a slide, further comprising automatically loading and unloading said slides.
42 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the hybridization is detected by FISH, CISH, PCR, ELISA, CGH, Array CGH or flow cytometry.
43 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the nucleic acid probes comprise a polynucleotide that hybridizes to two or more of ADCY2, C5orf49, FASTKD3, MTRR, SEMA5a, or SNORD123.
44 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the target comprises ADCY2, C5orf49, FASTKD3, MTRR, SEMA5a, and SNORD123.
45 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the nucleic acid probes are labeled with a fluorescent label.
46 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the cervical sample is derived from a cervical biopsy, a punch biopsy, a pap smear, a thin layer cytological specimen, a thin layer suspension, fine needle aspiration, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), hysterectomy, CONE biopsy, or endocervical curettage (ECC).
47 . The method of claim 36 , wherein at least 800 cells are examined.
48 . The method of claim 36 , wherein at least 1000 cells are examined.
49 . The method of claim 36 , wherein 1000 cells are examined.
50 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises CENT.
51 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises CEN3.
52 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises a locus on chromosome 1q.
53 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises a locus on chromosome 20q.
54 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises a locus on chromosome 12q, 19q, 11q, 6q, 17p, 7, 8q, 9q, 16q, 2q, 9p, 10q, or 18p.
55 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises a locus on chromosome 20q12, 1q21-31, 12q13-24, 19q13, 11q21, 7q11-22, 8q24, 9q33-34, 16q23, 2q32, 9p22, 10q21-24, or 18p11.
56 . The method according to claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises a locus at 3q26, 3q27, or 3q26.2.
57 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises TERC.
58 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the target further comprises TERC, PIK3CA, PRKCI, or GLUT2.
59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the nucleic acid probes comprise a polynucleotide that hybridizes to two or more of TERC, PIK3CA, PRKCI, or GLUT2.
60 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the target further comprises CEN7 or CEN3.
61 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the target further comprises a locus on chromosome 1q.
62 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the target further comprises a locus on chromosome 20q.
63 . The method according to claim 62 , wherein the target further comprises CEN7 or CEN3.
64 . The method of claim 63 wherein at least 800 cells are examined.
65 . The method of claim 63 , wherein the targets on different chromosomes are hybridized by nucleic acid probes labeled with differently colored fluorescent labels.