Fiber optic probe‐based ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy for rapid breast cancer detection: A pilot study

Abstract

AbstractBreast cancer diagnosis is crucial for timely treatment and improved outcomes. This paper proposes a novel approach for rapid breast cancer diagnosis using optical fiber probe‐based attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy from 750 to 4000 cm−1. The technique enables direct analysis of tissue samples, eliminating the need for microtome sectioning and staining, thus saving time and resources. By capturing molecular fingerprint information, various machine‐learning models were used to analyze the spectroscopic data to classify cancerous and non‐cancerous tissues accurately. Comparing deparaffinized and paraffinized samples reveals the impact of sample preparation and experimental methods. The study demonstrates a strong correlation between the cancerous nature of a sample and its ATR‐FTIR spectrum, suggesting its potential for breast cancer diagnosis (sensitivity of 74.2% and specificity of 78.3%). The proposed approach holds promise for integration into clinical operations, providing a rapid method for preliminary breast cancer diagnosis.