Dominique F C M Smeets | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

UroVysion compared with cytology and quantitative cytology in the surveillance of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The multitarget fluorescence in situ hybridization probe set Vysis UroVysion, consisting of probes for chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 and for the 9p21 band, was studied to evaluate its value in the follow-up of patients with bladder cancer. The results were compared with conventional cytology and quantitative cytology (Quanticyt). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether UroVysion is a better adjunct to urethrocystoscopy than cytology and quantitative cytology. METHODS: UroVysion, cytology, and quantitative cytology were performed on 113 voided urinary samples of 105 patients under surveillance for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Before urethrocystoscopy or transurethral resection of the bladder, a voided urinary sample was obtained. Results of all tests were compared to evaluate the value of UroVysion. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients had biopsy-proven urothelial cell carcinoma. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 39.1% and 89.7% for UroVysion, 40.6% and 89.7% for cytology, and 42.1% and 67.9% for quantitative cytology. When the UroVysion test and cytology were combined, sensitivity increased to 53.1%, but specificity decreased to 79.5%. Detection of Ta tumours was equal for cytology and UroVysion (26.7%), detection of T1 and T2-T4 samples by UroVysion was 60% and 50%, respectively. Detection of grade 1, 2, and 3 tumours by UroVysion was 21.4%, 36.8%, and 66.7%, respectively. In four cases the UroVysion test was positive, but no abnormalities were seen at cystoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the use of UroVysion provides no improvement over cytology or quantitative cytology in the diagnosis of recurrent non-muscle-invasive bladder tumours.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Historical prospective of human cytogenetics: from microscope to microarray.

After the fundamental discovery in 1956 that normal human cells contain 46 chromosomes, clinical cytogenetics was born and studies into the relation of chromosomal defects and disease could begin. Although many technical advances have been made over this long period, including the introduction of molecular techniques, until now, all cytogenetic studies have been performed through regular microscopes, which was throughout the years the most important equipment of a cytogenetic laboratory. However, recently a new technique has been introduced based on comparative genomic hybridization on an array of thousands of different probes (array-CGH). This technique enables an increase in the sensitivity of detecting chromosomal aberrations far beyond the detection limit of regular banding techniques. Furthermore, it gives us the possibility to detect genomic changes in malignant cells in cases where aberrations are too complex to study or when chromosomes are not available at all. Cytogenetic laboratories are now challenged to introduce and incorporate this new application next to the various well-established microscopical techniques to provide optimal diagnostic services.

Chromosome Banding↗