Can mid-infrared biomedical spectroscopy of cells, fluids and tissue aid improvements in cancer survival? A patient paradigm

Abstract

This review will take a fresh approach from the patient perspective; offering insight into the applications of mid-infrared biomedical spectroscopy in a scenario whereby the patient presents with non-specific symptoms and via an extensive diagnostic process multiple lesions are discovered but no clear sign of the primary tumour; a condition known as cancer of unknown primary (CUP). With very limited options to diagnose the cancer origin, treatment options are likely to be ineffective and prognosis is consequentially very poor. CUP has not yet been targeted by infrared biospectroscopy, however, this timely, concise dissemination will focus on a series of research highlights and breakthroughs from the field for the management of a variety of cancer-related diseases - many examples of which have occurred within this year alone. The case for integration of mid-infrared (MIR) technology into clinical practice will be demonstrated largely via diagnostic, but also therapeutic and prognostic avenues by means of including cytological, bio-fluid and tissue analysis. The review is structured around CUP but is relevant for all cancer diagnoses. Infrared spectroscopy is fast developing a reputation as a valid and powerful tool for the detection and diagnosis of cancer using a variety of sample formats. The technology will produce data and tools that are designed to complement routine clinical practice; enhancing the ability of the clinician to make a reliable and non-subjective decision and enabling decreased levels of mortality and morbidity and gains in patient quality of life.

Emerging Themes in Image Informatics and Molecular Analysis for Digital Pathology

“…An overwhelming majority of studies utilize standard statistical pattern recognition techniques, including linear discriminant analysis, Bayesian methods, neural networks, and random forests, to find cell types or signatures of disease (reviewed in Reference 125). Investigators are now focusing on patient issues and outcomes (126). Notably, recent studies show that it is possible to classify tissue into carcinoma and benign at human-competitive accuracy (127), relate the cancer detected to the most probable grade (128), and to prognosticate (129).…”

A review of novel analytical diagnostics for liquid biopsies: spectroscopic and spectrometric serum profiling of primary and secondary brain tumors

“…Dorling and Baker, presented a schematic highlighting the potential for serum analysis using spectroscopy within a clinical environment, expanded further by Hughes et al. (2016) (Hughes and Baker 2016) – see Figure 3.…”

“…Schematic showing the potential use of serum spectroscopy within a clinical setting [Figure adapted from (Hughes and Baker 2016)].…”

An infrared spectroscopic blood test for non-small cell lung carcinoma and subtyping into pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma

“…This process has been termed disease pattern recognition (DPR) [19], and is part of an emerging field of photonic biofluid diagnostics [3]. The technology may be ultimately useful to improve cancer detection by personalized analysis and minimally invasive sampling [11].…”