A method which indicates the DNA content of populations of desquamated buccal cells by measuring the amount of acriflavine they bind was evaluated for its effectivenes in identifying individuals with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx. Comparisons of the frequency distributions for uptake of acriflavine by 50,000‐cell samples were made among 209 ostensibly healthy adults, 200 alcoholics, and 164 patients with cancer histories. Sufficient deviation from the noncancer groups was exhibited by the cancer group to suggest clinical exploitability for the method, particularly by health screening programs. At the 30% level for dye uptake, 96% of cases of existing cancer were identified. A false‐positive rate of 25% occurred at this level. Some false‐positive results were attributable to such possibly relevant conditions as viral infection and cigarette smoking.
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