A Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic comparison of cultured human fibroblast and fibrosarcoma cells: a new method for detection of malignancies

TitleA Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic comparison of cultured human fibroblast and fibrosarcoma cells: a new method for detection of malignancies
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1995
AuthorsYang, D, Castro, D, El-Sayed, IH, EL-Sayed, MA, SAXTON, RE, ZHANG, NYI
JournalJournal of clinical laser medicine & surgery
Volume13
Issue2
Pagination55-59
ISBN Number1044-5471
Abstract

Infrared vibration spectroscopy appears to be a more powerful technique for tumor diagnosis than visible or UV spectroscopy. In the present work, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to compare cultured normal fibroblast and fibrosarcoma cells. Significant differences were observed by comparing the spectra of the normal human cells with that of the cancer cells. The PO2 symmetric stretching mode at 1082 cm-1 is shifted to a higher frequency in the cancer cell and a broad band, whose center is located at 1064 cm-1 in the cancer cell is reduced in intensity. In addition, the decrease in intensity of the CH2 bending mode relative to that of CH3 mode is detectable only in the fibrosarcoma cell. This FTIR difference between fibroblast and fibrosarcoma cells suggests that either fatty acid chains or protein side chains of the cancer cells are partially degraded resulting in more terminal carbon (e.g., CH3). It is also possible that changes in the environment upon carcinogenesis induces a change in the relative absorption cross section for CH3 and CH2 bending vibrations. These results suggest that FTIR spectroscopy may become a promising and sensitive technique for tumor identification.