The development of rapid diagnostic tools for cancer recognition and its different stages of growth using spectroscopy and chemometrics

The aim of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of developing a rapid diagnostic method for cancer cell recognition using infrared spectroscopy.

James Chapman, Paul Ramsland and Daniel Cozzolino

Aim

The aim of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of developing a rapid diagnostic method for cancer cell recognition using infrared spectroscopy. This method will profile different stages of cancerous cells, based on their molecular composition and structure by the use of IR spectroscopy. The development of this method will lead to more affordable and non-invasive diagnosis (far future-tech) for the rapid screening of individuals with cancer, providing information on the type of cancer and its stages.

Outline

If a patient is suspected of having cancer, a clinician typically orders certain blood tests or other laboratory tests, such as the analysis of urine or a biopsy of the suspicious area to help guide the diagnosis. With the exception of blood cancers, blood tests cannot tell if cancer is present or not, it will take a biopsy or scan in order to ascertain whether cancer is present or not. During a biopsy, a clinician will remove a small amount of tissue to examine under a microscope by a surgeon, a radiologist, an oncologist, a gastroenterologist, a pathologist for example.1 The level of invasiveness will depend on where the suspect cancer is, and therefore results in varied recovery times. For example, a test for bowel cancer,2 although specific to the specific situation, may require a colonoscopy and biopsy. The time taken from discovering the suspect cancer to treatment is often varied and can sometimes be a defining factor for life or death, Figure 1. 

Image showing four steps to cancer diagnosis with an arrow pointing to one device Figure 1. Process for cancer diagnosis: Diagnosis to treatment takes two weeks (minimum in a good health system). Your project aims to reduce this time.

Rationale

In this project, you will be using your knowledge over the duration of your degree to develop a rapid and non- invasive screening method for cancer diagnosis. You will be using a range of matrices which contain markers indicative of some cancer types in order to assess the cancer cells. You should have an interest in method development with a focus on FTIR and UV-Visible spectroscopy.

(1)  Sidransky, D. Nucleic acid-based methods for the detection of cancer. Science 1997, 278 (5340), 1054.

2)  Mandel, J. S.; Bond, J. H.; Church, T. R.; Snover, D. C.; Bradley, G. M.; Schuman, L. M.; Ederer, F. Reducing mortality from colorectal cancer by screening for fecal occult blood. New England Journal of Medicine 1993, 328 (19), 1365. 

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.