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Review
. 2018 Dec;37(4):691-717.
doi: 10.1007/s10555-018-9770-9.

Applications of Raman spectroscopy in cancer diagnosis

Gregory W Auner  1   2   3   4 , S Kiran Koya  5   6   7 , Changhe Huang  5   6   7 , Brandy Broadbent  6   7 , Micaela Trexler  6   7 , Zachary Auner  7   8 , Angela Elias  6   7 , Katlyn Curtin Mehne  6   7 , Michelle A Brusatori  5   6   7
Affiliations
Review

Applications of Raman spectroscopy in cancer diagnosis

Gregory W Auner et al. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Novel approaches toward understanding the evolution of disease can lead to the discovery of biomarkers that will enable better management of disease progression and improve prognostic evaluation. Raman spectroscopy is a promising investigative and diagnostic tool that can assist in uncovering the molecular basis of disease and provide objective, quantifiable molecular information for diagnosis and treatment evaluation. This technique probes molecular vibrations/rotations associated with chemical bonds in a sample to obtain information on molecular structure, composition, and intermolecular interactions. Raman scattering occurs when light interacts with a molecular vibration/rotation and a change in polarizability takes place during molecular motion. This results in light being scattered at an optical frequency shifted (up or down) from the incident light. By monitoring the intensity profile of the inelastically scattered light as a function of frequency, the unique spectroscopic fingerprint of a tissue sample is obtained. Since each sample has a unique composition, the spectroscopic profile arising from Raman-active functional groups of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates allows for the evaluation, characterization, and discrimination of tissue type. This review provides an overview of the theory of Raman spectroscopy, instrumentation used for measurement, and variation of Raman spectroscopic techniques for clinical applications in cancer, including detection of brain, ovarian, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers and circulating tumor cells.

Keywords: Applications; Cancer; Clinical; Diagnosis; Raman spectroscopy; Spectroscopy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Energy level diagram for Rayleigh scattering, Raman scattering, and fluorescence
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Typical laboratory Raman spectrometer
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Raman probe assembly
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Mean Raman spectra of interoperative brain tissue samples in the spectral range of 400–1800 cm−1 deemed as normal, white matter, gray matter, tumor (GBM), infiltrating tumor, and necrosis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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