Optical projection imaging system and method for automatically detecting cells with molecular marker compartmentalization associated with malignancy and disease

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/927,151 of Alan C. Nelson, filed Aug. 10, 2001, now U.S. Pat No. 6,522,775 that is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0003] The present invention relates to projection imaging systems in general and cell classification, and more particularly, to high throughput automated systems using projection imaging, such as flow optical tomography (FOT), for detecting cancer in high risk individuals based on highly quantitative measurements of nuclear or cytoplasmic molecular marker compartmentalization associated with malignancy and disease.

[0004] The most common method of diagnosing cancer in patients is by obtaining a sample of the suspect tissue and examining it under a microscope for the presence of obviously malignant cells. While this process is relatively easy when the anatomic location of the suspect tissue is known and can be sampled thoroughly (e.g. the uterine cervix), it is not so easy when there is no readily identifiable tumor or lesion and the area to be sampled is very large. For example, with reference to the detection of lung cancer, it is not possible to swab the entire airway of the lungs. A sample such as sputum must be used as it contains cells exfoliated from the air passages in the lungs. This creates a dilution problem because an early lung cancer is very small compared to the entire internal surface of the lungs and, as a result, the number of cells shed from the tumor is also very small relative to that of normal cells. The problem is compounded because only a small portion of the sputum sample is actually examined. Thus, detection of lung cancer with traditional sputum cytology requires one or more relatively rare cancer cells to be present in the portion of the sample that is examined. Therefore, if the sample does not perceptively and accurately reflect the conditions of the lung, then patients having lung cancer may not be diagnosed properly.

[0005] One example of a microscope-based system and method for detecting diagnostic cells and cells having malignancy-associated changes is disclosed in Palcic et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,174. The Palcic et al. system includes an automated classifier having a conventional microscope, camera, image digitizer, a computer system for controlling and interfacing these components, a primary classifier for initial cell classification, and a secondary classifier for subsequent cell classification. The method utilizes the automated classifier to automatically detect diagnostic cells and cells having malignancy-associated changes. This method improves on traditional cytology by detecting cells exhibiting malignancy-associated changes, which are more common than cancer cells. However, the quality of the diagnostic result is limited by the use of a conventional microscope, which does not permit accurate measurement of stain densities. Furthermore, the method of Palcic et al. does not address the use of specific molecular probes nor the compartmentalization of molecular markers.

[0006] With the advent of specific molecular probes, such as antibodies and nucleic acid probes, new disease related questions can be addressed by tagging these molecular probes and then measuring their location and concentration within biological cells and tissues. The use of tagged, specific molecular probes enable the indirect quantitation and compartmentalization of molecular markers such as pRb, p53/p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1), Sam68, PTEN, E2F and 5-methylcytosine-guanine (methyl CpG) which may be informative of disease processes such as cancer. (See, for example, Pasquale, D., “Retinoblastoma Protein Tethered to Promoter DNA Represses TBP-Mediated Transcription”, Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 70:281-287, 1998, Rappold I, “Tumor Suppressor p53 Binding Protein 1 (53BP1) Is Involved in DNA Damage-signaling Pathways”, The Journal of Cell Biology, 153 (3):613-620. 2001, Chen, T., “A Role for the GSG Domain in Localizing Sam68 to Novel Nuclear Structures in Cancer Cell Lines”, Molecular Biology of the Cell 10:3015-3033, 1999, Perren, A., “Mutation and Expression Analyses Reveal Differential Subcellular Compartmentalization of PTEN in Endocrine Pancreatic Tumors Compared to Normal Islet Cells”, American Journal of Pathology, 157 (4):1097-1103, 2000, Gil, R., “Subcellular Compartmentalization of E2F Family Members Is Required for Maintenance of the Postmitotic State in Terminally Differentiated Muscle”, The Journal of Cell Biology, 148(6): 1187-1201, 2000, Rountree, M., “DNA methylation, chromatin inheritance, and cancer”, Oncogene , 20:3156-3165, 2001). As the need to more accurately localize and quantify these probes is emerging, there is a concomitant need for improved techniques to measure probe densities with submicron resolution in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D). Conventional light microscopy, which utilizes cells mounted on glass slides, can only approximate 2D density measurements because of limitations in focal plane depth, sampling angles, and problems with cell preparations that typically cause cells to overlap in the plane of the image. Another drawback of light microscopy is the inherent limitation of viewing through an objective lens where only the area within the narrow focal plane provides accurate data for analysis.

[0007] Flow cytometry methods generally overcome the cell overlap problem by causing cells to flow one-by-one in a fluid stream. Unfortunately, flow cytometry systems do not generate images of cells of the same quality as traditional light microscopy, and, in any case, the images are not three-dimensional. For background, those skilled in the art are directed to Shapiro, H M, Practical Flow Cytometry,3^rded., Wiley-Liss, 1995.

[0008] Confocal microscopy offers 3D imaging of samples by imaging successive thin layers of the sample to create a stack of 2D images, which can be viewed in 3D. The imaging is accomplished by scanning a narrow spot of light across the sample on a glass slide. Fluorescent or reflected light is focused onto a detector through a pinhole, which blocks out-of-focus light from impinging on the detector. Thus, the size of the pinhole determines the resolution in the vertical direction and the spot size determines the resolution in the horizontal directions. Unfortunately, confocal microscopy is a very slow procedure because the image is built up by scanning a small spot of light in a raster across the sample and the sample has to be rescanned to produce each additional slice. Another drawback is that cells deposited on slides are flattened, causing distortions of cellular structures.

[0009] In the area of computer aided tomography, U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,460, issued Mar. 28, 1995, to Johnson, et al. entitled “Three-dimensional Microtomographic Analysis System” discloses a microtomographic system for generating high-resolution, three-dimensional images of a specimen using an x-ray generator and an x-ray detector that measures the attenuation of the x-ray beam through the specimen. Two projections, each using a different energy x-ray beam, of each view of the specimen are made with Johnson, et al.'s microtomographic system. After the two projections of one view of the specimen are made, the specimen is rotated on the specimen holder and another set of projections is made. The projections of each view of the specimen are analyzed together to provide a quantitative indication of the phase fraction of the material comprising the specimen. The projections of the different views are combined to provide a three-dimensional image of the specimen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,460 is incorporated herein by reference. Although the x-ray technology as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,460 is useful for some applications, it does not provide an optical solution useful for flow cytometry, whereby one could measure the 3D distribution of molecular density within a biological cell.

[0010] To overcome the aforementioned limitations and others found in such systems, it is a motivation of this invention to combine the one-by-one cell presentation of flow cytometry with computational optical tomography from multiple point source projections to reconstruct density information within a cell from a plurality of projections. The reconstructed density information enables the accurate quantitation of specifically labeled markers and the compartmentalization of such markers.

[0011] The density information referred to herein is unique to projection imaging systems that do not require the use of lenses and focal planes with their inherent unwanted blur artifact due to unfocussed structures outside the narrow focal plane. Because projection imaging systems do not require lenses and focal planes, but rather, produce shadowgrams wherein all structures are in clear focus all at once, the measurement of density features will be more quantitative and accurate than in conventional microscopy systems. Moreover, 3D reconstruction from the projection images enables the separation of features that may overlap in any single 2D view. These density features are directly related to the locations and quantities of the molecular probes used to stain the cells.

[0012] The present invention overcomes deficiencies of the prior art wherein measurement of subcellular or subnuclear compartmentalization of molecular markers was not used in diagnostics because, until now, no efficient method to perform these measurements existed.

[0013] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for detecting cells associated with malignancy in a cell sample, comprising the steps of obtaining a cell sample and suspending the cells in a solution; if required, fixing the cells of the cell sample in suspension; staining and/or labeling the cells to generate optical densities associated with specific molecular markers or other structures within each cell of the sample; generating a flow stream of single cells; illuminating each cell in the flow stream with a “point” source of light and obtaining one or more projection images (e.g. shadowgrams) through the cell with a digital detector; compensating the projection images for variations in background illumination; analyzing the projection images to detect and compartmentalize the specifically labeled molecular markers; providing the marker compartmentalization and other analytical data to at least one classifier that identifies and characterizes cells associated with malignancy in the cell sample.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a system for automatically detecting molecular markers and compartmentalization or localization of the markers in cells. The preferred system includes a flow optical tomography (FOT) instrument that is controlled by and interfaced with a computer system. Projection images captured by the FOT are stored and manipulated by the computer system to detect the presence of labeled molecular markers. Multiple projection images can be reconstructed by the computer to generate three-dimensional (3D) images to compartmentalize the labeled markers within the cells or nuclei as well as quantifying such markers.

[0015] To determine molecular marker compartmentalization, a cell sample is obtained and stained in suspension, and then imaged by the FOT. The stain or tagged probe is specific for molecular markers of interest, including but not limited to pRb, p53/53BP1, E2F, PTEN, SAM68 and methyl CpG. The molecular probe can be tagged with chromophores, fluorochromes or enzymes that can generate chromophores or fluorochromes. The computer system then analyzes the projection images directly and/or computes the 3D reconstruction that is also analyzed. The images are corrected for nonuniformillumination and other imperfections of the image acquisition system. After all images are corrected, the edges, surfaces and volumes and densities of the objects of interest are calculated, i.e., the boundary that determines which pixels or voxels belong to the object or structure of interest and which belong to the background. These objects of interest include aggregates of tagged probes and stained cellular structures.

[0016] The computer system then calculates a set of 1D, 2D and 3D feature values for each object or structure. For some feature calculations, the boundary along the highest gradient value is corrected by either dilating or eroding the edge (or surface) by one or more pixels (or voxels). This is done such that each feature achieves a greater discriminating power between classes of objects and is thus object specific. These feature values are then analyzed by a classifier that uses the feature values to determine whether the object is an artifact or an object or structure of interest within a cell or nucleus that had been specifically stained or labeled. If the object appears to be an object or structure of interest, then the feature values are further analyzed by the classifier to determine whether the object is of the type and in a cellular or nuclear compartment indicative of disease. Once an object or structure of interset has been identified, the associated molecular probe density is assigned to that particular object thus achieving the compartmentalization of the probe. Based on the number of cells found in the sample that appear to have significant disease related changes in marker compartmentalization, a statistical determination can be made of whether the patient from whom the cell sample was obtained is healthy or harbors a malignant growth.

[0017] In other embodiments, the present invention provides a method for detecting epithelial cells in a cell sample and a method for detecting cells with molecular compartmentalization that is correlated with disease among the epithelial cells. In another embodiment, a method for predicting whether a patient will develop cancer is provided.

[0018] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a flow cytometry system as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of a flow process for a single cell as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B schematically show an example of a cell and a cross-section of reconstruction as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of a reconstruction cylinder as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of a flow optical tomography (FOT) system as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of projection rays within a reconstruction cylinder as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of a top view of a reconstruction cylinder as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of the geometry of a source/linear array configuration used in cell reconstruction as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 9 schematically shows an example of a classification method used in the analysis of marker quantitation and compartmentalization from projection images and tomographic reconstruction as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 10 schematically shows an example of the process of compartmentalization of a molecular probe as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 11 schematically shows examples of compartments within a cell.

[0029] FIG. 12 schematically shows a block diagram of a method for the detection of cells with molecular marker compartmentalization associated with malignancy and/or disease including a cancer.

[0030] The invention is described herein with respect to specific examples relating to biological cells, however, it will be understood that these examples are for the purpose of illustrating the principals of the invention, and that the invention is not so limited. In one example, constructing a three-dimensional distribution of point densities and emission intensities within a microscopic volume allows the measurement of density and fluorescence at any location within the subcellular volume and determines the location of structures or molecular markers that have been labeled with tagged molecular probes. By using tagged molecular probes, the quantity of probes that attach to specific structures or molecular markers in the microscopic object may be measured, giving a measurement of the compartmentalization of the marker associated with the structure. For illustrative purposes, an object such as a biological cell may be labeled with at least one tagged molecular probe such as antibodies, specific binding proteins, lectins or nucleic acid probes, and the measured compartmentalization of these probes may yield important information about the disease state of the cell, including, but not limited to, various cancers such as lung, breast, prostate, cervical, bladder and ovarian cancers. The molecular probe can be an antibody to pRb, p53, 53BP1, Sam68, PTEN, E2F or methyl CpG.

[0031] Biological cells that have been prepared in suspension and stained or labeled with tagged molecular probes for specific disease diagnosis, are caused to flow or translate through a device that provides for the collection of projection images and allows the reconstruction of 2D and 3D density information from optical projection ray paths approximately perpendicular to the motion vector of the cell. By controlling the velocity of the cell motion along an axis, the perpendicular 2D planes of reconstruction can be correctly located (or stacked) along the axis of the cell to create a 3D picture of the entire cell, or a 3D image of the cell may be computed directly from 2D optical transmission or emission projections.

[0032] Flow cytometry is highly suitable for image reconstruction because of the following characteristics:

[0033] cells flow in single file through the capillary tube so cell overlapping and obscuration are minimized,

[0034] the velocity of cells flowing through the capillary tube can be directly measured and is constant,

[0035] cells tend to follow the center axis of the capillary tube

[0036] analyzing cells in suspension minimizes structural distortions

[0037] The present invention takes advantage of the aforesaid characteristics, but is not limited by these characterisics, to provide a system for point source projection imaging and tomographic image reconstruction.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 1, there shown schematically is an example of a flow cytometry system as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. The system is oriented with reference to a coordinate system 11 having coordinates in the x, y and z-directions. In operation, cells 1 are injected into injection tube 3 using a known injection device 4. The capillary tube is wider at an injection end 5 and includes a pressure cap 6. A sheath fluid 7 is introduced at tube 8 to create laminar flow within the capillary tube 2. It is characteristic of traditional flow cytometry that the cells 1, prepared and suspended in solution, can be moved through a capillary tube 2 such that they elongate slightly with the axis of flow and move approximately down the central axis of the capillary tube 2, as represented by dashed line 9. Cells may advantageously be made to flow with axial symmetry and with constant velocity 10 in single file along the center axis of a cylindrical capillary tube.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 2, there shown schematically is an example of a flow process for a single cell as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. A cell 1 moves with a constant velocity (V) indicated by velocity vector 10 through a capillary tube 2. The cell 1 comprises a cytoplasmic membrane 12 and a nuclear membrane 13. During the course of flowing through the capillary tube 2, the cell 1 passes through a plurality of reconstruction planes represented for illustrative purposes as first, second and third reconstruction planes 14a,14band 14crespectively. A first planar slice 15athrough the cytoplasm lies within reconstruction plane 14a.Similarly, a second planar slice 15bthrough the cytoplasm and the nucleus, lies within the second reconstruction plane 14b,and a third planar slice 15clies within the third reconstruction plane 14c.A central feature of the present invention is that a number of optical point sources of selectable wavelength are disposed about and concentric with the capillary tube. The optical point sources operate in conjunction with opposing optical sensor arrays that are sensitive to selectable portions of the light spectrum, thus allowing the acquisition of projections of the light transmitted through the cell. The acquired projection images may be analyzed directly or processed using tomographic image reconstruction algorithms to provide spatial maps or images of the distribution of densities and/or emission intensities within the cell. It will be understood that in practice the number of reconstruction planes may vary from several to several hundred or more, depending on the needed image resolution of the object being presented to the system. The group of reconstructed parallel planar slice images may be combined or stacked in software to produce a three-dimensional (3D) image of the densities and emission intensities within the cell. In addition, by employing planar (2D) instead of linear (1D) light sensor arrays, and a cone instead of a fan illumination ray pattern, projections of a plurality of contiguous planar slices through the flowing cells may be acquired simultaneously. As a result, three-dimensional (3D) images of the distribution of densities and emission intensities within the cell volume can be computed directly from the two dimensional (2D) projections using cone-beam reconstruction algorithms. Alternatively, the 2D point source projection images, which possess infinite depth of field, can be analyzed directly.

[0040] In the case of a biological cell, a distance (d) between reconstruction planes may be a few microns or less. A point within the cell 1 will coincide with each reconstruction plane at time intervals, where the time intervals (t) may be described according to the relationship:

[0041] t=d÷V  (Equation 1).

[0042] Referring now jointly to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, there shown schematically is an example of a cross-section 16 of reconstruction as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. Reconstruction of point densities within a cell from optical projections through it benefits from the axial symmetry and centrality of the flowing cell. Additionally, the space being sampled by projections can be modeled as consisting of three major compartments:

[0043] 1. the fluid outside the cell 17 (i.e. the sheath fluid or cell suspension medium),

[0044] 2. the cell cytoplasm 18, and

[0045] 3. the cell nucleus 19.

[0046] Knowing quantitatively the distribution of optical density or molecular probes in these three compartments may be sufficient to address many important problems in cell biology and disease diagnosis. Additionally, it may be useful to compute two boundary surfaces including the cytoplasmic membrane 12 and the nuclear membrane 13 if certain molecular probes bind preferentially to those surfaces. Otherwise, it may be sufficient to characterize these membranes as the transition surfaces between the three different compartments.

[0047] In other instances, it may be advantageous to reconstruct and define compartments within the cytoplasm and nucleus such as golgi apparatus and nucleolus respectively and to localize specific molecular markers to these compartments.

[0048] By combining the reconstructed slices of the cell, or by reconstructing in a helical, volumetric manner, the 3D morphology and volume information can be generated, but absolute (as opposed to relative) volumes depend on accurate information of cell location. Cell location is a function of the flow velocity. However, in some instances, the relative concentrations or densities of stain or molecular probes are sufficient to address the diagnostic question: How much probe is in a certain subcellular or subnuclear compartment compare to other compartments? The inappropriate compartmentalization of some molecular markers as measured by the relative optical densities of the specific probes in the various compartments may be sufficient for diagnosis of a disease condition. The association of tagged probes with specific subcellular compartments, structures or organelles within the cytoplasm or nucleus is facilitated by submicron spatial resolution.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 4, there shown schematically is an example of a reconstruction cylinder, surrounding flow tube 2 containing flowing cells 1, as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. A reconstruction cylinder 20 includes, for example, a helix 24 of point sources 21 disposed at a predetermined helical pitch, with pitch angle θ. Each point source 21 generates a beam of photons 22, where the beam of photons 22 is typically cone or fan shaped. While the arrangement of the sources depicted in the example of FIG. 4 is helical, the array of point sources may take on a wide variety of geometric patterns, depending in part on the speed of the electronics, the cell velocity and the geometry that achieves non-overlapping projection signals at the sensor (detector). Sensing elements 23 are disposed to receive light from the point sources.

[0050] The fixed optical point sources 21, in conjunction with opposing detectors 23 mounted around a circumference of the tube can sample multiple projection angles through the entire cell 1 as it flows past the sources. By timing of the emission or readout, or both, of the light source and attenuated transmitted and/or scattered and/or emitted light, each detected signal will coincide with a specific, known position along the axis in the z-direction of the flowing cell. In this manner, a cell 1 flowing with known velocity along a known axis perpendicular to a light source that is caused to emit or be detected in a synchronized fashion, can be optically sectioned with projections through the cell that can be reconstructed to form a 2D slice in the x-y plane. By stacking or mathematically combining sequential slices, a 3D picture of the cell will emerge. It is also possible to combine the cell motion with the positioning of the light source (or sources) around the flow axis to generate data that can be reconstructed, for example, in a helical manner to create a 3D picture of the cell. Reconstruction can be done either by stacking contiguous planar images reconstructed from linear (1D) projections using fan-beam reconstruction algorithms, or from planar (2D) projections directly using cone-beam reconstruction algorithms. The 3D picture of the cell can yield quantitative measures of sub-cellular structures and the compartmentalization or location and amount of tagged molecular probes that provide diagnostic information.

[0051] As mentioned, more than one projection through a cell section is required to reconstruct the 2D or 3D density structure in the section or volume. In traditional slice-by-slice medical x-ray computed tomography, multiple projections are made by holding the human patient motionless while the x-ray source and opposing detectors move along a circumference to generate multiple projection angles through the patient. By analogy, the flow optical tomography system of this invention moves the cell at a predetermined velocity (V) past multiple sources positioned at different angles along the circumference of the capillary tube to generate multiple projections through the cell as it flows past the point sources. These point sources emit photons that pass through the cell and are detected by an array of sensors opposite the source. The point sources may advantageously be arranged along a helix 24, or in other appropriate geometric patterns, on the circumference of the capillary tube such that each point in the cell is sampled from a multitude of angles as it passes through the array of point sources. For good sampling geometry, these point sources may cover at least 180 degrees of circumference. Less angular coverage (i.e. angular under sampling) may be feasible in some instances, while additional radial coverage will improve accuracy and the signal-to-noise ratio of the computed reconstruction. Depending on the geometry, it may be advantageous to apply traditional analytical, iterative or statistical algorithms for cone-beam or fan-beam image reconstruction. (See, for example, Gilbert, P., “Iterative Methods for the Three-dimensional Reconstruction of an Object from Projections,” Journal of Theoretical Biology 36:105-17, 1972, Oppenheim, B. E., “More Accurate Algorithms for Iterative 3 dimensional Reconstruction,” IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science NS-21:72-7, 1974, Singer, J. R., Grunbaum, F. A., Kohn, P., and Zubelli, J. P., “Image Reconstruction of the Interior of Bodies that Diffuse Radiation,” Science 248(4958):990-3, 1990. Mueller, K. and Yage, R., “Rapid 3-D Cone-beam Reconstruction with the Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (SART) Using 2-D Texture Mapping Hardware”, IEEE Transactions on Medical imaging 19(12):1227-37, 2001.) Related methods include, but are not limited to ART (algebraic reconstruction technique, as discussed in Bellman, S. H., Bender, R., Gordon, R., and Rowe, J. E., “ART is Science being A Defense of Algebraic Reconstruction Techniques for Three-dimensional Electron Microscopy,” Journal of Theoretical Biology 32:205-16, 1971), SIRT (simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique, as discussed, for example by Gilbert, id. #1493), ML-EM (maximum likelihood expectation maximization, as discussed, for example, by Manglos, S. H., Jaszcak, R. J., and Floyd, C. E., “Maximum Likelihood Reconstruction for Cone Beam SPECT: Development and Initial Tests,” Physics in Medicine and Biology 34(12):1947-57,1989, #1382), and OSEM (ordered subsets expectation maximization, as discussed, for example, in Manglos, S. H., Gagne, G. M., Krol A, Thomas, F. D., and Narayanaswamy, R., “Transmission Maximum-likelihood Reconstruction with Ordered Subsets for Cone Beam CT”, Physics in Medicine and Biology 40(7):1225-41, 1995, #4389).

[0052] Flow Cytometer

[0053] Referring now to FIG. 5, there shown schematically is an example of a flow optical tomography system (FOT) as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. The flow optical tomography system includes a flow cytometer, with a reconstruction cylinder 20 positioned around capillary tube 2. A source of photons 25 and a photon sensor 26 work together with pulse height analyzer 27 to operate as a triggering device. Pulse height analyzer 27 operates in accordance with known principals to provide a first trigger point 28 for the beginning of a cell, and a second trigger point 29 for the end of the cell. The pulse height analyzer 27 outputs a trigger signal 30 corresponding to the beginning and end of each cell, where the trigger signal is received by the reconstruction cylinder 20.

[0054] A computer 40 is coupled to transmit data, control signals and timing signals to the point sources 21, sensing elements 23 and pulse height analyzer 27 by signal lines 41-43. The computer may comprise a known computer or plurality of computers and array processors adequate for image acquisition and image reconstruction processing.

[0055] Commercial flow cytometers come with three basic flow configurations: namely, the cylindrical flow tube, the rectangular flow tube and the flow in air system. (See Shapiro, H. M., Practical Flow Cytometry,3^rded., Wiley-Liss, 1995.) The preferred configuration is the cylindrical flow tube, because it is important to preserve optimal cylindrical geometry for the reconstruction algorithm to minimize any radial dependence due to the flow hardware (see FIG. 1). Moreover, the cylindrical flow tube may have uniformly thin walls relative to the cross-sectional area of the capillary tube.

[0056] Additionally, the triggering device may be located upstream from the reconstruction module to provide a timing signal to initiate then terminate data collection as the cell optimally enters then emerges from the reconstruction cylinder. The triggering device may advantageously comprise a laser diode, CCD, PMT, a photodetector combination, a solid state photodetector and combinations of the foregoing elements. The triggering device has a threshold setting that senses the presence of a flowing cell, thus generating a trigger signal that, in conjunction with a known cell velocity, can be used to calculate when the downstream reconstruction cylinder may commence data collection for that particular cell of interest. Further, the time interval between the first and second trigger points corresponding to the entrance and exit of the cell into and out of the reconstruction cylinder, may be divided into equal or unequal increments during each of which additional projection data may be acquired by strobing the light source(s) 21 and reading out the sensor array(s) 23.

[0057] The velocity of flow needs to be controlled and measured accurately. This capability is provided for in high-end commercial systems that use velocities in the range of 1 meter/sec to 10 meters/sec. The best cell velocity will be determined by the speed of data collection and signal-to-noise considerations as discussed subsequently.

[0058] The Reconstruction Module

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 6, there shown schematically is an example of fan-beam projection rays within a reconstruction cylinder 20 as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. The purpose of reconstruction cylinder is to provide a means of projecting light from a plurality of fixed point sources 21a-21c, along a small circumference, into the cylindrical capillary tube. The photons emitted from the point sources have a known projection geometry, such as a fan or a cone shape, and pass through the capillary tube to be detected by an array of sensing elements 23a,23bor 23c,as the case may be, located along a larger circumference opposite a corresponding point source. While curved linear (1D) sensor arrays suitable for fan-beam transillumination are depicted for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that straight linear (1D) sensor arrays or planar (2D) sensor arrays suitable for cone-beam illumination may be similarly employed. In this manner, a set of projection rays can be generated where the projection rays can be described as the straight line connecting the point source to an individual sensing element. The difference between the number of photons leaving the point source along a particular projection ray, such as ray 31, and the number of photons received at the particular sensing element is related to the number of photons lost or attenuated due to interactions with the cell and associated tagged molecular probes and other contents of the flow tube along the projection ray path.

[0060] However, complications may arise from light scatter, photon energy shifts, imperfect geometry and poor collimation, and photons from different sources may arrive at a particular sensing element when multiple point sources are energized simultaneously. With careful construction of the reconstruction cylinder, for example by judicious choice of the geometry for the pattern of point sources and their opposing detectors as described herein, and by proper timing or multiplexing of activation of the multiple point sources and readout of the sensor arrays, the photon contamination due to these issues can be minimized but not eliminated.

[0061] Photon contamination can be accounted for by calibration of the system, for example, with no cells present. That is, each light source may be illuminated in turn and its effects on each of the sensors can be measured, thereby providing offset data for use in normalizing the system. An additional calibration step may entail, for example, imaging latex polymer beads or other microspheres or oblate spheroids whose optical properties are known and span the density range of interest for cellular imaging. Photons emitted from fluorescing probes may be differentiated from those originating at the point sources by the use of spectral bandpass filters at the detector as discussed subsequently.

[0062] Light Source

[0063] Each source may have the same general characteristics, preferably:

[0064] it may approximate a small circular point source,

[0065] it may be bright with known spectral content,

[0066] the photons emitted from the source may have a known geometry such as a cone-beam or a fan-beam.

[0067] Each source creates data for one projection angle. A plurality of sources arranged along a helix whose axis is the center axis of the flow tube creates data from multiple projection angles through each successive plane (or reconstruction slice) as the cell flows through the module. Depending on the sensor geometry, several point sources could be arranged co-linearly on the same circumference such that the projections do not overlap at the sensor. A good sampling geometry can be achieved by placing sources equidistant along a helix of 180 degrees, though less angular coverage may be tolerable in some instances, and 360 degrees may be employed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The desired number of sources is a function of the needed resolution within each planar reconstruction (the x-y plane) or volumetric reconstruction. While a helical arrangement of point sources is used for illustration, it is to be understood that a variety of geometric patterns may be employed for the point source array. Further, the wavelength of the sources is selectable either by use of various diode or other lasers or by bandpass filtering of a white or other broadband source, for example a mercury or xenon arc lamp.

[0068] Referring now to FIG. 7, there shown schematically is an example of a top view of a reconstruction cylinder, as shown in FIG. 6, as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. A first point source 21aand sensor array 23aare shown with a cell with nucleus 19 flowing perpendicular to the page in a projection of the source trajectory which, in two dimensions, constitutes a circle of reconstruction 32, in which all projections, even though acquired in a temporally staggered fashion, are depicted as overlapping, and in which the whole cell is contained. A second point source 21band second sensor array 23bare located about 30° around the helix. A third point source 21cand third sensor array 23care located about 90° around the helix.

[0069] Data collection is gated in synchrony with the cell velocity within a “thick” planar axial cross-section of the cell. The desired plane thickness is a function of the needed resolution in the z-direction. Typically, the resolution in the axial direction (z-direction) will be less than in the planar transaxial direction. Also, the best circle of reconstruction may be defined by the overlapping intersection of the projection fans having the point sources at their apexes and the width of the sensing arrays at their bases. It is desirable that the geometry of the reconstruction cylinder assures that the flowing cell cross section is contained entirely within the circle of reconstruction.

[0070] There are several options that can be employed to create optical point sources, such as:

[0071] a pinhole in front of a laser or other high intensity photon source,

[0072] an optical fiber with a small cross-section,

[0073] a short focal length lens in front of a photon source,

[0074] an electron beam that irradiates a point on a phosphor surface (a form of CRT), and

[0075] various combinations of the above.

[0076] The geometry is such that the closer the point source is to the object of interest (the cell) the higher the magnification due to the wider geometric angle that is subtended by an object closer to the source. Conversely, if the required resolution is known in advance of the system design, then the geometry can be optimized for that particular resolution. For background, those skilled in the art are directed to Blass, M., editor-in-chief, Handbook of Optics: Fiber Optics and Nonlinear Optics,2^nded., Vol. IV, Mcgraw-Hill, 2001.

[0077] Referring now to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of a straight linear array 23 used in cell reconstruction as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. For example, given a cell cross section 12 and nucleus 19 contained within a 30-micron diameter circle of reconstruction and a desired resolution of 0.5 microns, then Nyquist sampling (i.e. over-sampling by a factor of two) dictates that at least 120 sensing elements 33 are required for each point source 21. The point source 21 at the apex and the linear array length 34 at the base form a triangle 35, such that the example 30-micron diameter cell fits within the triangle 35 as closely as possible to the point source 21. In this example, if each element of the (e.g. CCD) array is 20 microns wide and the array length is 2400 microns, then the center of the cell may be located about 100 microns (half the diameter of the capillary tube) from the point source when the distance between the point source and the linear array is 8 millimeters, providing 80-fold magnification.

[0078] As a second example, consider a 30-micron diameter circle of reconstruction and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensing array in which the pixel element size is 4 microns. In this case the array may contain 120 elements for a width of 480 microns, and it may be positioned 1.6 mm from the point source when the distance between the point source and the cell is 100 microns, providing a 16-fold magnification.

[0079] Sensing Elements

[0080] Each point source shall have a corresponding array of sensing elements such as CCDs in some straight or curved geometric arrangement opposite the point source to receive photon rays transmitted through the circle of reconstruction. Typically, the linear array may have its array of sensing elements centered on the line between the point source and the central flow axis, and may line up perpendicularly to the flow axis. It is possible to use 2D arrays where only a subset of each line of elements within the 2D array is read out for the reconstruction input. In a 2D array, each successive subset of elements may be staggered by the appropriate number of elements to align properly with each different point source along the helical arrangement of point sources.

[0081] For slice-by-slice fan-beam reconstruction using the example of the 30-micron reconstruction circle with 120 sensing elements per fan to obtain a resolution of 0.5 microns, a 2D array with 2000×2000 20-micron elements is sufficient for sensing 136, point sources arranged at 1 radial degree increments, where the average off-set between successive views is 300 microns, where that is equivalent to 15 sensing elements. (At the center of the array, the offset may be 140 microns, or 7 elements, while at the edges of the array, a 1 radial degree sweep between views may entail a considerably larger offset.) If groups of 15 rows of the sensor array were averaged to provide the projection data for one slice, the z-resolution within the cell image may be 3.75 microns, whereas if 2 rows were averaged for each projection, the axial resolution in object space may be 0.5 microns, equivalent to the transaxial resolution.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the 2D array is curved along a cylindrical circumference that may be concentric with the reconstruction cylinder, so that the ray paths are all equal in length. For the case of a 30-micron reconstruction circle, a curved, 2D array that possessed only the elements required to oppose a helical locus of point sources may be a helical strip 120 elements wide by some multiple of 136 elements in height (length) for the example described above.

[0083] Though planar or “thick” fan illumination is described for purposes of the illustration above, it is to be understood that true, uncollimated cone-beam illumination may be employed in conjunction with 2D planar detectors, providing for 3D reconstruction using cone-beam algorithms. The 2D projection images may be analyzed directly to obtain, for example, information about the disease status or transformation state of the cell. For direct, volumetric cone-beam reconstruction, the illumination from a plurality of point sources is multiplexed in such a way that, given the geometric arrangement of the point sources and detectors, the cones of illumination from different point sources do not overlap on the sensor array.

[0084] Moreover, if the cell were flowing with a velocity of 1 meter/sec (or 1,000,000 microns/sec) and each element in the 2D array were 20 microns wide, then a line read-out every 20 microseconds may readily capture data within a 0.25-micron slice of the cell. For the case when 15 sensor rows are averaged to provide the data for a 3.75-micron slice, readouts would have to occur every 300 microseconds. A significant improvement in reconstruction image quality is achieved using a larger 2D array.

[0085] One embodiment of the present invention especially suited for multispectral imaging of a number of transmitted or emitted wavelength bands may advantageously include two or more reconstruction modules arranged in series. Such multiple reconstruction cylinders may be separated by intervening sections of capillary tube, and each module provides projection data adequate to produce a complete reconstructed image of the objects flowing through it. The point sources and/or sensor arrays for each of the several reconstruction modules may be optimized for a particular spectral band. For example, a first reconstruction module may employ intense white light illumination and unfiltered detection to provide a complete projection data set to reconstruct a map of object optical density, absorption or scattering coefficients, while a second reconstruction module may employ illumination, such as an argon-ion laser (488 nm), in a narrow spectral band centered around 495 nm to excite fluorescing probe labeling proteins for an immunofluorescence study in conjunction with filtered sensor arrays sensitive to the 520-nm emission to provide a second complete projection data set sufficient to map the concentration distribution of the labeled proteins by using emission reconstruction algorithms, as described subsequently. Yet a third reconstruction module may use narrow-band illumination centered around 535 and/or 342 nm to excite propidium iodide bound stoichiometrically to DNA and filtered sensor arrays to optimally detect the red (617-nm) emissions for studies of ploidy. It will be understood that the aforesaid examples are for illustrative purposes, and that the method applies generally to any wavelength combinations for illuminating and sensing.

[0086] Image Reconstruction

[0087] The most common and easily implemented reconstruction algorithms, known as filtered backprojection methods, are derived from a similar paradigm in computerized x-ray tomography (CT) using cone-beam and fan-beam geometry. (See the following references, for example, Kak, A. C. and Slaney, M., Principles of Computerized Tomographic Imaging,IEEE Press, New York, 1988, and Herman, G., Image Reconstruction from Projections: The Fundamentals of Computerized Tomography,Academic Press, New York, 1980.) These methods are based on theorems for Radon transforms with modifications that reflect the particular geometry of the source/detector configuration and the ray paths in the irradiating beam. However, in the case of clinical x-ray CT, for slice-by-slice acquisition, the human subject is usually held motionless while the x-ray source and detector arrays may move along an arc around the patient to collect data from multiple projection angles within a given slice. Then the human subject is repositioned along the z-axis and another slice of data is collected, etc. Alternatively, in the more modern clinical helical CT, the patient may be continuously translated in the z-direction while the source-detector assembly rotates continuously to provide helical projection data, which is then interpolated to provide projections orthogonal to the patient z-axis. In flow optical tomography, the subject (a cell) is moved with constant velocity relative to the stationary sources and detector arrays wherein the plurality of source/detector systems acquire data in synchrony with specific gated time points along the cell velocity vector in a fashion that generates multiple projection angle data within a given slice or volume. For slice-by-slice scanning, the reconstruction algorithm will compute a 2D image of a plane perpendicular to the axis of motion, and the serial stacking of multiple slices will generate the 3D picture of the subject where contrast is a function of the variations in the x-ray attenuation coefficient or optical density within the subject for CT or flow optical tomography, respectively. For volumetric, cone-beam scanning the reconstruction algorithm computes a 3D image of a volume within the cell or other object directly from planar transmission or emission optical projections, where the contrast is a function of the optical density and/or fluorescent tagged probe density distribution, respectively, within the imaged object.

[0088] It may be desirable for either the transmission data to produce the cell density reconstruction or for the emission data to reconstruct the fluorescent tagged probe distribution, or both, to employ image reconstruction algorithms other than filtered backprojection. The general class known as iterative reconstruction algorithms is more efficacious in some instances, especially for emission tomography or when it is possible, as in the instance of the current invention where the axial symmetry and tricompartmental nature of the object are known, to incorporate a priori information into the reconstruction algorithm to improve the quality of the reconstruction (See, for example, Gilbert, P., “Iterative Methods for the Three-dimensional Reconstruction of an Object from Projections,” Journal of Theoretical Biology 36:105-17, 1972, and other references noted hereinabove).

[0089] Similarly, one method may advantageously use finite element modeling-based (FEM), statistical reconstruction algorithms. FEM algorithms are derived from linear transport theory in which the photon diffusion/migration equation is solved at all the boundaries of the elements to produce a two- or three-dimensional map of some combination of the absorption, scattering, refractive index and anisotropy factor properties of the imaged object. Examples of such methods are taught in Paulsen, K. D. and Jiang, H., “Spatially Varying Optical Property Reconstruction Using a Finite Element Diffusion Equation Approximation”, Medical Physics 22(691-701) 1995, Hampel, U. and Freyer, R., “Fast Image Reconstruction for Optical Absorption Tomography in Media with Radially Symmetric Boundaries”, Medical Physics 25 (1):92-101, 1998, and Jiang, H., Paulsen, K. D., and Osterberg, U. L., “Frequency-domain Near-infrared Photo Diffusion Imaging: Initial Evaluation in Multitarget Tissuelike Phantoms”, Medical Physics 25(2):183-93,1998.

[0090] Chromatic Separation

[0091] If a polychromatic point source is used (e.g., white light) then different chromatic stains (e.g. chromophores) can be utilized to distinguish a number of molecular probes and structural features within a given cell. Here, serial bandpass filters at the source or sensing array (or both) separate the wavelength data and allow the reconstruction and spatial localization of the individually stained molecules. A more robust method for imaging multiple probes involves an intense white light source and simultaneous collection of multiple filtered bandwidths in the sensor arrays thus allowing the image reconstruction algorithms to compute spatial image slices for each chromophore. These may be displayed as colored images.

[0092] Fluorescence, Phosphorescence, Chemiluminescence and Nano-Particle Emission

[0093] As a special case of the flow optical tomography system, certain molecular probes can be tagged with a “reporter” that emits light of a different (longer) wavelength when stimulated by the primary source of photons. The secondary emission from the reporter can be filtered with standard optical filters to separate the primary source photons from the secondary emission photons. However, the secondary emission photon image reconstruction algorithm is further complicated, because the secondary photons do not necessarily arise in a direct ray path from the point source. If it is assumed that the secondary photons radiate from the secondary point source in a uniform spherical pattern, then the intensity of the secondary photons reaching any sensing element will be a simple function of distance to the sensing element. A further refinement may account for the non-spherical distribution of photons from the secondary source by providing a model of the spatial distribution of secondary photons relative to the point source and within the reconstruction slice. Either method will provide a means to calculate the location of the secondary source in the reconstruction slice or volume. Collimation between the imaged object and the detector array(s) will improve the image reconstruction.

[0094] If the primary photon intensities and the secondary photon intensities are measured simultaneously by optical filtration, the high resolution density reconstruction from the primary photon intensities can be superimposed upon or fused with the secondary source reconstruction such that image morphology along with localized probe concentration is available in a single reconstructed image. Depending on intensity, signal-to-noise and on the ability to filter or produce narrow bandwidths of photons at the source and/or sensors, it may be advantageous to utilize multiple secondary sources each corresponding to a different tagged molecular probe.

[0095] As described above, the present invention is a system for automatically detecting and compartmentalizing molecular markers specifically stained or labeled with molecular probes from optical projections and tomographic reconstructions of cells obtained from a patient. A determination can be made of whether the patient has a malignant cancer by the presence or absence of inappropriate molecular marker expression and/or compartmentalization.

[0096] Referring now to FIG. 9, there shown schematically is an example of a classification method with cell reconstruction data as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention. The system may include several classifiers that can work together to determine whether a particular cell sample contains cells of interest and whether these cells exhibit inappropriate molecular marker expression and/or compartmentalization associated with disease. A classifier is a computer program that analyzes an object based on certain feature values 91. The automated classifier system of the present invention may include, for example, a primary classifier 90, which performs a basic screening function, and selects objects of interest. A secondary classifier 92 classifies cellular objects as morphologically abnormal or morphologically normal and having inappropriate molecular marker expression and/or compartmentalization associated with disease, or normal and not exhibiting disease related inappropriate molecular marker expression and/or compartmentalization. A report 93 may be provided detailing the classification results of any one or all of the classifiers. It will be understood that many and various classifiers may be employed. Depending upon the application.

[0097] As noted above, while the automated system of the present invention may include a primary and secondary classifier, a single classifier can be used to sequentially obtain the classifications achieved by the present invention. The software packages used to generate classification functions based on statistical methods are generally commercially available.

[0098] The automated classifier of this invention preferably includes classifiers that utilize fuzzy binary decisions or Bayesian statistical decisions based on molecular marker features in performance of their classification function. The classifier can be constructed to include a large number of feature values, for example, including molecular marker compartmentalization features, morphological features, photometric features, discrete texture features, Markovian texture features, non-Markovian texture features, fractal texture features and run length texture features.

[0099] The primary classifier may typically function to subtype objects of interest into three classes: (1) cells that contain diagnostic information including molecular markers and their compartmentalization that are associated with disease; (2) inflammatory cells; and (3) artifacts. The primary classifier can affect cell-by-cell classification through a binary decision tree incorporating a selection of feature values.

[0100] As indicated above, the ability of the system of the present invention to distinguish cells and cell nuclei from artifacts, and cells having molecular marker compartmentalization associated with disease from other normal cells depends on the ability of the classifier to make distinctions based on the values of the features computed. For example, to distinguish normal cells from abnormal cells (i.e., diagnostic cells), the present invention may apply several different discriminant functions, each of which is trained to identify particular types of objects and particular changes in molecular marker expression and/or compartmentalization.

[0101] The secondary classifier classifies the cells in the cell sample selected by the primary classifier and also uses a binary decision tree and feature values in performance of its classification function. The secondary classifier, which can be considered as a sample-by-sample classifier, analyzes the cells classified by the primary classifier and classifies the samples as having features associated with cancer or not having cancer associated features. As with the primary classifier, the secondary classifier is constructed to distinguish cells based on a set of preferred molecular marker compartmentalization.

[0102] The classifier may include at least one discriminant function, wherein the discriminant function uses features from shadowgrams to classify cells of interest in the sample including, but not limited to, molecular marker expression and compartmentalization and features selected from the group consisting of area, mean radius, optical density (OD) variance, OD skewness, OD range, OD average, OD maximum, density of light spots, high average distance, mid/high average distance, correlation, homogeneity, entropy, fractal dimension, texture, punctateness, connected components, nearest neighbor analysis and the various harmonics in spatial density frequency space.

[0103] Referring now to FIG. 10, there shown schematically is an example process for determining the compartmentalization of a molecular probe. In a first step 94 features are extracted from the projection images or the 3D reconstructed images. At step 95 edges, boundaries, borders, areas, surfaces and volumes are identified within the object of interest using known edge finding techniques, for example. After features are extracted from the projection images or the 3D reconstructed images, the features are used to find objects of interest at step 96, as may be accomplished under the classification system described in FIG. 9 above. At step 97, having determined objects of interest, molecular probe density(ies) associated with the object of interest are mapped to the corresponding object as the measure of compartmentalization of that probe(s) at step 98. For instance, the concentration of a probe A associated with an object of interest X will be a measure of the concentration of target molecules associated with that object and as such is the compartmentalization of the target within the cell.

[0104] Referring now to FIG. 11, there shown schematically are examples of compartments that may be of interest. In the simplest case, a cell 1 can be divided into two compartments, the cytoplasmic compartment 18 and the nuclear compartment 19. Molecular markers can be compartmentalized within the cytoplasmic or nuclear compartments of a cell. In another example, the cytoplasmic compartment can be further divided into other compartments such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes. In yet another example, organelles such as nucleoli can be defined as compartments within the nuclear compartment. In yet another example, transient structures such as condensed chromosomes 38 can be defined as compartments. One knowledgeable in the art will recognize that any molecular structure that can be located in intracellular space can be defined as a compartment.

[0105] Referring now to FIG. 12, a block diagram of a method for the detection of cells with molecular marker compartmentalization associated with malignancy and/or disease including a cancer is schematically shown. The method comprises:

[0106] obtaining a cell sample having a plurality of cells and suspending the plurality of cells in a solution at step 100;

[0107] if required, fixing the plurality of cells of the cell sample at step 102;

[0108] labeling at least one molecular marker in the plurality of cells with tagged molecular probes or stains at step 103;

[0109] illuminating at least one cell of the plurality of cells with at least one point source of light at step 104;

[0110] obtaining at least two different projection images through the at least one cell with a digital array detector at step 105;

[0111] compensating the at least two projection images for variations in illumination at step 106;

[0112] analyzing the at least two projection images to detect at least one labeled molecular marker having densitometric and location features at step 107;

[0113] analyzing the location of the at least one molecular marker within the at least one cell at step 108;

[0114] measuring compartmentalization of the at least one labeled molecular marker by using the densitometric and location features at step 109; and

[0115] analyzing compartmentalization of the at least one labeled molecular marker with at least one classifier for the detection of malignancy and/or disease associated molecular marker-compartmentalization at step 110.

[0116] In one example embodiment, the step 106 of compensating the at least two projection images for variations in illumination may be accomplished using conventional optical and image processing techniques. Analyzing the at least two projection images to detect at least one labeled molecular marker having densitometric and location features at step 107 may be carried using the techniques described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/055,066 of Alan C. Nelson, filed Jan. 22, 2002 and entitled “OPTICAL PROJECTION IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING CELLS HAVING NUCLEAR AND CYTOPLASMIC DENSITOMETRIC FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH DISEASE,” the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

[0117] Step 108, analyzing the location of the at least one molecular marker within the at least one cell, may be carried using the techniques described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/147154, attorney docket number 60059US, US of Alan C. Nelson, filed May 13, 2002 and entitled, “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY USING TEMPORAL SIGNATURES,” the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

[0118] Step 109, measuring compartmentalization, may advantageously include analyzing texture of density features formed by the at least one labeled molecular marker located within coinciding bounding surfaces located within the at least two projection images. Further, the step of measuring compartmentalization may advantageously include comparing boundary surfaces within the at least two projection images to determine a set of coinciding boundary surfaces between the at least two projection images. The step of measuring compartmentalization may still further advantageously include determining co-localization of at least two labeled markers in reconstructed 3D space. The step of measuring compartmentalization may still further advantageously include determining co-localization of at least two labeled markers in 2D space. The step of measuring compartmentalization may still further advantageously include analyzing texture of density features of at least two labeled markers in relationship to each other, for example, using the techniques of the aforementioned Nelson patent application Ser. No. 10/147154, attorney docket number 60059US.

[0119] In a preferred embodiment, a compartment may be any 3-dimensional space having boundaries within a cell as discerned by the FOT. The cell sample may be a human lung specimen, a human cervical specimen, a blood specimen, or may contain rare cells. In one example, the staining of a sample to identify molecular marker compartmentalization comprises reacting the cells with anti-pRb antibody. In another example, a binding protein specific for methyl CpG may be used to stain methylated DNA.

[0120] The system of the invention is useful for analyzing various types of biological cells. In one example, the cell of interest can be selected to be diagnostic of cancer, and/or, the cell of interest may advantageously be a preinvasive cancer cell. The cell of interest may comprise an invasive cancer cell where the cells of interest are utilized in screening a patient for cancer. The cells of interest may also be utilized in determining whether a patient will develop cancer. The cancer cell can be derived from an epithelial cancer. Alternatively, or in addition, the preinvasive cancer cell can be of epithelial origin. The epithelial cancer may be advantageously selected from the group consisting of lung and throat cancer, cervical and ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, skin cancer and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.

[0121] In another embodiment, disease associated molecular marker compartmentalization is determined by measuring the compartmentalization of markers including but not limited to pRb, p53/53BP1, SAM68, PTEN, E2F and c-myc in a significant number of sputum samples taken from individuals with lung cancer and comparing the compartmentalization of these molecular markers in normal individuals and determining which molecular markers have compartmentalization that is distinguishable between the two groups. Other molecular markers can also be screened for disease associated compartmentalization in the same way.

[0122] The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the Patent Statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles of the present invention, and to construct and use such exemplary and specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention may be carried out by specifically different equipment, and devices and reconstruction algorithms, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment details and operating procedures, may be accomplished without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.