Cell analysis apparatus and cell analysis method

Abstract

A cell analyzing method includes measuring cells that are nuclear stained, by a cytometric device, to obtain a histogram of a parameter of a fluorescence signal, where the parameter indicates an amount of DNA in a nucleus of a cell. A number of cells that are distributed in an area where the parameter of the fluorescence signal is larger than normal cells are obtained by a computer having at least one processor. The possibility of cancer is determined based on the obtained number of cells and the histogram.

1 . A cell analyzing method comprising:
 measuring, by a cytometric device, cells that are nuclear stained, to obtain a histogram of a parameter of fluorescence signal, the parameter indicating an amount of DNA in a nucleus of a cell;
 obtaining, by a computer comprising at least one processor, a number of cells that are distributed in an area where the parameter of the fluorescence signal is larger than normal cells; and 
 determining possibility of cancer based on the obtained number of cells and the histogram. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determination is performed using a relative number of cells that are distributed in an area where the parameter of the fluorescence signal is larger than the normal cells. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the relative number is a ratio of the obtained number of cells to a total number of cells. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the histogram on a display. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the fluorescence signal is a pulse area of the fluorescence signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a peak of the normal cells from data of the histogram, wherein
 the number of cells that are distributed in an area where the parameter of the fluorescence signal is larger than the peak of the normal cells are obtained.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cells are epithelial cells. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the possibility of cancer is determined to be high when the relative number is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the measurement is performed by measuring an intensity of fluorescence from each of the cells that are nuclear stained. 
     
     
         10 . A cell analyzing method comprising:
 measuring, by a cytometric device, an intensity of fluorescence emitted from each of cells that are nuclear stained to prepare a distribution of the cells according to an amount of DNA in a nucleus of a cell;
 analyzing, by a computer comprising at least one processor, the distribution of the cells to calculate a ratio of abnormal cells which have an amount of DNA greater than normal cells; and 
 displaying the calculated ratio. 
   
     
     
         11 . A cell analyzer comprising:
 a cytometric device which measures cells that are nuclear stained;   a display which displays a histogram of a parameter of fluorescence signal by using a result of the measurement by the measuring portion, the parameter indicating an amount of DNA in a nucleus in a cell; and   a computer comprising at least one processor configured to obtain a number of cells that are distributed in an area where the parameter of the fluorescence signal is larger than normal cells, and determine possibility of cancer based on the obtained number of cells and the histogram.   
     
     
         12 . The analyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to determine the possibility of cancer based on a relative number of cells that are distributed in an area where the parameter of the fluorescence signal is larger than the normal cells. 
     
     
         13 . The analyzer according to  claim 12 , wherein the relative number is a ratio of the obtained number of cells to a total number of cells. 
     
     
         14 . The analyzer according to  claim 11 , wherein the display is configured to display the histogram and a determination result by the computer. 
     
     
         15 . The analyzer according to  claim 11 , wherein the parameter of the fluorescence signal is a pulse area of the fluorescence signal. 
     
     
         16 . The analyzer according to  claim 11 , wherein the computer is configured to detect a peak of the normal cells from data of the histogram and obtain the number of cells that are distributed in an area where the parameter of the fluorescence signal is larger than the peak of the normal cells. 
     
     
         17 . The analyzer according to  claim 11 , wherein the cells are epithelial cells. 
     
     
         18 . The analyzer according to  claim 12 , wherein the computer is configured to determine the possibility of cancer to be high when the relative number is greater than a threshold value. 
     
     
         19 . The analyzer according to  claim 11 , wherein the cytometric device comprises:
 a flow cell that accommodates a flow of cells that are nuclear stained;   a light source that emits light to the cells flowing through the flow cell; and   a fluorescence detector that detects fluorescence from each of the cells flowing through the flow cell and outputs a fluorescence signal.   
     
     
         20 . The analyzer according to  claim 11 , wherein the cytometric device is configured to measure an intensity of fluorescence from each of the cells that are nuclear stained.