Abstract
Stokes shift spectroscopy (S3) offers a novel and simpler way to rapidly recognize spectral fingerprints of multiple fluorophores in complex media such as in tissue. This spectroscopic technique can be used as an effective approach to detect cancer in tissue. The alterations of the measured S3 spectra between cancerous and normal tissues were observed in human breast and prostate samples. In order to obtain the optimal Stokes shift interval, Δλi, for the purpose of breast/prostate cancer detection using S3, the S3 spectra of a mixed aqueous solution of tryptophan, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and flavin were measured with different Δλi values. The experimental results analyzed using nonnegative least square method show that there is a reduced contribution from collagen and an increased contribution from tryptophan to the S3 signal of the cancerous tissue as compared with those of the normal tissue. This study indicates that the changes of relative contents of tryptophan and collagen in tissue shown by the S3 spectra may present potential native biomarkers for breast and prostate cancer detection. S3 has the potential to be a new armamentarium.
Highlights
Optical spectroscopy, in particular the Stokes shift spectroscopy (S3), has the potential to be used as a noninvasive or less invasive technique for cancer detection over other conventional diagnostic methods
A number of key fluorophores tryptophan, collagen, elastin, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and flavin were investigated as the fingerprint molecules in biomedical optics.[2,3]
Another obvious difference between cancerous and normal prostate tissues revealed by the S3 spectra shown in Fig. 1(a) is that the peak intensity at I294 is higher than that at I340 for the cancerous prostate tissue while this property is inversed in the normal prostate tissue
Summary
In particular the Stokes shift spectroscopy (S3), has the potential to be used as a noninvasive or less invasive technique for cancer detection over other conventional diagnostic methods. Additional advantages of S3 include less time consumption, reproducibility, and minimal invasiveness without removing tissue.[1]. S3 falls within the field of “optical biopsy,” a spectroscopic technique to diagnose disease without removing tissue sample, heading toward new advanced tools for medical armamentarium. Human tissue is mainly composed of epithelial cells, proteins, fat, water, and extracellular matrix of collagen fiber. A number of key fluorophores tryptophan, collagen, elastin, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and flavin were investigated as the fingerprint molecules in biomedical optics.[2,3]. NADH and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are involved in the oxidation of fuel molecules and can be used to probe changes in cellular metabolism.[5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
