Optical projection imaging system and method for automatically detecting cells with molecular marker compartmentalization associated with malignancy and disease

A method for the detection of cells with molecular marker compartmentalization associated with malignancy and/or disease including a cancer, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) obtaining a cell sample having a plurality of cells and suspending the plurality of cells in a solution;
• b) if required, fixing the plurality of cells of the cell sample;
• c) labeling at least one molecular marker in the plurality of cells with tagged molecular probes or stains;
• d) illuminating at least one cell of the plurality of cells with at least one point source of light;
• e) obtaining at least two different projection images through the at least one cell with a digital array detector;
• f) compensating the at least two projection images for variations in illumination;
• g) analyzing the at least two projection images to detect at least one labeled molecular marker having densitometric and location features;
• h) analyzing the location of the at least one molecular marker within the at least one cell;
• i) measuring compartmentalization of the at least one labeled molecular marker by using the densitometric and location features;
• and
• j) analyzing compartmentalization of the at least one labeled molecular marker with at least one classifier for the detection of malignancy and/or disease associated molecular marker-compartmentalization.