Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a sputum sample from a subject suspected of having lung cancer comprising obtaining a plurality of cells from the sputum sample from the subject, marking the plurality of cells with i) a plurality of cell lineage specific marker compositions, ii) a cell viability composition and iii) a tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) composition; analyzing with the flow cytometer the plurality of cells marked with i-iii to obtain a subpopulation selected for cell size from the plurality of cells based upon an automatically selected bead size exclusion gate; from the cell size selected subpopulation, selecting a viable singlet population of cells using an automated non-debris gate and an automated singlets gate; from the viable singlet population of cells, obtaining flow cytometer values based upon the plurality of cell lineage specific marker compositions, the viability marker and the TCPP marker; applying a trained classifier to meta data from the subject and the flow cytometric val

Abstract: A method of inhibiting skin cancer by administering to a subject in need thereof a double stranded RNA interference (RNAi) agent comprising at least one of (i) a first double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a CD320 gene wherein the first dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand forming a duplex, and (ii) a second dsRNA for inhibiting the expression of a LRP2 gene wherein the second dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand forming a duplex, wherein the sense strand of the first dsRNA is at least substantially complementary to the antisense strand of the first dsRNA and the sense strand of the second dsRNA is at least substantially complementary to the antisense strand of the second dsRNA and the use of the RNAi agent as a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of cancer in subjects in need of treatment.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a sputum sample from a subject suspected of having lung cancer comprising obtaining a plurality of cells from the sputum sample from the subject, marking the plurality of cells with i) a plurality of cell lineage specific marker compositions, ii) a cell viability composition and iii) a tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) composition; analyzing with the flow cytometer the plurality of cells marked with i-iii to obtain a subpopulation selected for cell size from the plurality of cells based upon an automatically selected bead size exclusion gate; from the cell size selected subpopulation, selecting a viable singlet population of cells using an automated non-debris gate and an automated singlets gate; from the viable singlet population of cells, obtaining flow cytometer values based upon the plurality of cell lineage specific marker compositions, the viability marker and the TCPP marker; applying a trained classifier to meta data from the subject and the flow cytometric val

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a sputum sample from a subject suspected of having lung cancer comprising obtaining a plurality of cells from the sputum sample from the subject, marking the plurality of cells with i) a plurality of cell lineage specific marker compositions, ii) a cell viability composition and iii) a tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) composition; analyzing with the flow cytometer the plurality of cells marked with i-iii to obtain a subpopulation selected for cell size from the plurality of cells based upon an automatically selected bead size exclusion gate; from the cell size selected subpopulation, selecting a viable singlet population of cells using an automated non-debris gate and an automated singlets gate; from the viable singlet population of cells, obtaining flow cytometer values based upon the plurality of cell lineage specific marker compositions, the viability marker and the TCPP marker; applying a trained classifier to meta data from the subject and the flow cytometric val

Abstract: A compensation bead comprising an amine functionalized bead modified covalently or non-covalently with a carboxyaryl porphyrin, a method for making the amine functionalized bead with the carboxyaryl porphyrin and a method of using the amine functionalized bead with the carboxyaryl porphyrin as a marker for the carboxyaryl porphyrin labeled cells and particles.

Abstract: Predicting the likelihood of lung disease in a subject, comprising labeling an ex-vivo sputum sample from a subject with one or more of the following: a first labeled probe that binds a biomarker expressed on a white blood cell population in the sample; a second labeled probe selected from the group consisting of: a granulocyte probe, a T-cell probe, a B-cell probe, or any combination thereof; a third labeled probe that binds a biomarker on a macrophage cell population; a fourth labeled probe that binds to a disease related cell in the sample; a fifth labeled probe that binds to a biomarker expressed on an epithelial cell population; and a sixth labeled probe that binds to a cell surface biomarker expressed on an epithelial cell population to obtain data comprising a mean fluorescent signature and detecting a profile based upon a presence or absence of labeled probes.

Abstract: Presented is a kit containing TCPP for use in prognosing a patient's response to a cancer therapy wherein prior to the therapy contacting a sample of cells from the patient's tissue or organ being treated for the cancer with a solution of TCPP to permit binding of the TCPP to components of the abnormal dysplastic or carcinomic cells, if any are present; detecting TCPP fluorescence in the sample, the presence of TCPP fluorescence being indicative that the sample contains dysplastic or carcinomic cells; at intervals during the therapy and subsequent to the therapy performing steps a-c on another sample of cells from the patient's tissue or organ being treated for the cancer; and determining if the percentage of abnormal pre-cancerous cells in the samples tested during and subsequent to the therapy are reduced as compared with the sample tested prior to the therapy, the reduction being prognostic of the patients response to the cancer therapy.

Abstract: Presented is a method of determining the presence of carcinomic cells in a sample by contacting a sample of cells with a solution of TCPP to permit binding of the TCPP to components of the abnormal dysplastic or carcinomic cells, if any are present; detecting TCPP fluorescence in the sample, the presence of TCPP fluorescence being indicative that the sample contains dysplastic or carcinomic cells.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of determining if a sputum sample contains dysplastic or carcinomic cells by obtaining a sputum sample containing cells. The sputum sample is labeled with TCPP to stain cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic. The labeled sputum sample is excited with an excitation wavelength of light of about 475 nm+/?30 nm and emission at about 560 nm+/?30 nm is detected from cells identified to be macrophages. An imager focuses on the plasma membrane of one or more cells suspected to be dysplastic or carcinomic and emission at about 655 nm+/?30 nm, if present, is detected for TCPP labeled cells of the sputum sample after focusing on the plasma membrane of the cells of the sputum sample. Photon flux for each pixel of a sensor is measured to obtain a value for the imaged cell. The measured value is scored to determine if a cell is cancerous or dysplastic.