Interphase cytogenetics of sputum cells for the early detection of lung carcinogenesis.

This perspective on Varella-Garcia et al. (beginning on p. 447 in this issue of the journal) examines the role of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization for the early detection of lung cancer. This work is an important step toward identifying and validating a molecular marker in sputum samples for lung cancer early detection and highlights the value of establishing cohort studies with biorepositories of samples collected from participants followed over time for disease development.