Identification and Validation of Molecular Markers in Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

• To identify new molecular abnormalities specific to the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.
• To determine the prevalence of candidate biomarkers in lung cancer progression.
• To determine the odds of developing lung cancer according to biomarker status in preinvasive lesions.
• To determine the odds of developing lung cancer according to proteomic biomarker status in the normal bronchial epithelium of high-risk patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Tissue samples are collected at the time of fluorescence bronchoscopy for laboratory biomarker studies. Blood, sputum, and urine samples are also collected. Gene and protein expression studies are performed on the samples using comparative genomic hybridization array, 3q oligonucleotide microarray, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Patients' medical records are reviewed to collect information about the patient's past medical history and pertinent laboratory and radiography results.