Abstract: Provided are methods of diagnosing lung cancer in a human, comprising the steps of: (a) isolating genomic DNA from a bronchial washing sample or bronchial brush from a human, detecting the methylation status of a plurality of genes consisting of HOXA9, SHOX2, SCT and HOXA7 are present in said genomic DNA, wherein each of said gene comprises at least one CpG island which may be methylated, wherein the presence of a hypermethylation status of at least two of the genes is indicative of the presence of lung cancer in said human.

Abstract: Copper alloys, methods for producing copper alloys, and copper tubes are provided. The copper alloys include an alpha solid solution formed from phosphorous deoxidized copper and at least one trace element comprising tin. The content of tin ranges from about 0.1% to about 2.0% by weight of the copper alloy. The trace element can further include zinc in an amount from about 0.05% to about 1.0% by weight of the copper alloy. The copper alloys have an increased tensile strength due to the strengthening effect by the alpha solid solution formed by phosphorous deoxidized copper and tin as the trace element, and accordingly a copper tube made from the copper alloy has a significantly improved pressure resistance.