gms | German Medical Science

27th German Cancer Congress Berlin 2006

German Cancer Society (Frankfurt/M.)

22. - 26.03.2006, Berlin

Raman spectroscopy to distinguish progression stages in breast cancer

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Hans Neubauer - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen, Tuebingen, Deutschland
  • Christina Schuetz - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen
  • Raffael Kurek - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen
  • Karl Sotlar - Department of Pathology, University of Tübingen
  • Tanja Fehm - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen
  • Erich Solomayer - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen
  • Diethelm Wallwiener - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tübingen
  • Susan Clare - Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

27. Deutscher Krebskongress. Berlin, 22.-26.03.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocPE095

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dkk2006/06dkk205.shtml

Published: March 20, 2006

© 2006 Neubauer et al.
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Outline

Text

The concept of early breast cancer detection has evolved to mean the discovery of a curable premalignant lesion or an early stage prior to metastasis. Therefore, methods must be developed to identify the actual primogenitors of cancer, those lesions which with certainty will progress to cancer. Currently, two technologies are employed for routine imaging of the breast: mammography and ultrasonography. Neither of these techniques can reliably distinguish between benign and malignant tissue. We hypothesize that differences in Raman spectra will enable the accurate discrimination of these lesions from one another, from normal breast epithelia, and most importantly, from invasive carcinoma. Therefore, preliminary studies were performed to investigate the power of Raman spectroscopy. Cyropreserved breast tissue was selected, sectioned (10µM) and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin to verify the histologic diagnosis by a pathologist and to guide the acquisition of Raman spectra from a consecutive section (30µM). This “analysis” section is mounted on PermanoxŅ (polyolefin; Nunc, Rochester, NY) over an area of the slide perforated with small holes (diam. 1mm) to provide the laser with direct access to the tissue without background Raman scattering from the polyolefin. Quality assurance was performed by measuring intact RNA (Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer). Using a Raman microscope spectra were obtained from multiple areas of five breast tumors to address the reproducibility of spectral similarities across different tumors, to identify spectral differences between malignant and benign tissue, to identify spectral differences between invasive and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and to optimize the integration time. In general, the spectral profiles for each tissue type are conserved with distinct differences in the predominance and peak widths of specific vibrations. Even in the absence of complex algorithms, malignant vs. benign tissue identification is possible. An analysis of the ability to reliably distinguish between invasive ductal carcinoma and DCIS will have to await additional spectra from this section as well as from other DCIS specimens. A sound vibrational fingerprint of the tissue, consistent with that of the high signal/noise scan at 10 minutes, can be obtained within 30 seconds. In conclusion, in vivo Raman analysis with minimal collection times is very accessible.