Method for determining the risk profile of neoplastic tissue

A method of determining the risk profile of a neoplastic tissue in a patient, the method comprising:

• (a) processing a sample of tumor tissue or cancer cells from the patient in a form suitable for visualization and demarcation of cell nuclei, individually distinguishable centrosomes (iCTRs) and megacentrosomes (mCTRs) in a region of interest (ROI) defined by a plurality of cell nuclei;
• (b) labeling cell nuclei, iCTRs and mCTRs by fluorescence staining and/or immunohistochemical staining;
• (c) imaging the iCTRs and/or mCTRs three dimensionally and determining the numbers of iCTRs and/or mCTRs, and the number of cell nuclei in the ROI;
• (d) determining the volume of each iCTR and/or mCTR in the ROI;
• and
• (e) calculating one or more centrosome amplification scores (CASs) values for the sample based on steps (c) and (d),
• wherein the one or more CASs indicate the severity of centrosome amplification, the frequency of centrosome amplification, or both, and
• wherein the one or more scores provide a measure of a level of risk and/or a prognosis associated with the neoplastic tissue.