Method and probe set for detecting cancer

1. A method of monitoring a patient for cancer recurrence, said method comprising:

(a) hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample from said patient, wherein said set consists of centromeric probes to chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 and locus specific probe 9p21; and

(b) determining the presence or absence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample by examining the hybridization pattern of said set of chromosomal probes, wherein the presence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample is indicative of cancer recurrence in said patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, sputum, peritoneal fluid, bladder washings, oral washings, tissue samples, touch preps, and fine-needle aspirates.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is concentrated.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is urine.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cancer is selected from the group consisting of bladder cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cancer, and leukemia.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cancer is bladder cancer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said chromosomal probes are fluorescently labeled.

8. A method of monitoring a patient undergoing cancer treatment, said method comprising:

(a) hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample from said patient, wherein said set consists of centromeric probes to chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 and locus specific probe 9p21; and

(b) determining the presence or absence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample by examining the hybridization pattern of said set of chromosomal probes, wherein the presence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample is indicative of a continued need for treatment of said patient.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said biological sample is selected from the group consisting of urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, sputum, peritoneal fluid, bladder washings, oral washings, tissue samples, touch preps, and fine-needle aspirates.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said cancer is selected from the group consisting of bladder cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cancer, and leukemia.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said cancer is bladder cancer.

12. A method of screening for bladder cancer in a subject, said method comprising:

(a) hybridizing a set of chromosomal probes to a biological sample from said patient, wherein said set consists of centromeric probes to chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 and locus specific probe 9p21; and

(b) determining the presence or absence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample by examining the hybridization pattern of said set of chromosomal probes, wherein the presence of aneusomic cells in said biological sample is indicative of bladder cancer in said patient.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising selecting cells from said biological sample and determining the presence or absence of aneusomic cells in said selected cells by examining the hybridization pattern of said set of chromosomal probes in each of said selected cells, wherein the presence of aneusomic cells in said selected cells is indicative of bladder cancer in said patient.

14. A kit for detecting cancer, said kit consisting of a set of chromosomal probes and optionally one or more reagents selected from the group consisting of a slide, phosphate buffered saline, hybridization buffer, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI), sodium chloride-sodium citrate (SSC) solution, fixative, ethanol, non-ionic detergent, and denaturation buffer, wherein said set of chromosomal probes consists of centromeric probes to chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 and locus specific probe 9p21.

15. The kit of claim 14 , wherein said chromosomal probes are fluorescently labeled.