Abstract:
The invention provides a method of detecting cancer, a progression of cancer, or a predisposition to cancer in a human, comprising (a) obtaining a sample of airway basal cells from the human, and (b) analyzing the sample to determine expression of one or more hESC-signature genes, wherein the expression or lack of expression of the one or more hESC-signature genes is indicative of a presence or absence of cancer, a progression of cancer, or a predisposition to cancer in the human. The invention also provides an in vitro model for lung cancer, comprising airway basal cells that express one or more hESC-signature genes.