Original Article
Use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering for detection of cancer-related serum-constituents in gastrointestinal cancer patients

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2013.09.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Laser-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has industrial and biological applications. We have developed a rapid and simple method for generating silver nanoscale hexagonal columns (NHCs) on the surface of a phosphor bronze chip for measurement of SERS spectra. This was used to detect SERS spectra from blood samples obtained from patients with gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, or benign diseases (n = 12 each) using a low intensity helium-neon red laser beam with a 632.8-nm wavelength; the intensity of the SERS spectra was compared among the patient groups. The peak heights of SERS spectra from patients with benign diseases were significantly lower than those from patients with gastric or colorectal cancer, whereas those from patients with gastric cancer and colorectal cancer did not differ significantly. Thus, SERS using NHC chips holds promise for the easier and faster detection of cancer-related serum-constituents as biomarkers.

From the Clinical Editor

In this study, laser-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was utilized as a sensitive detection method of cancer-related serum-constituents in gastric and colorectal cancer, via the use of silver nanoscale hexagonal columns on the surface of a phosphor bronze chip for measurement of SERS spectra, paving the way to the development of a rapid and high throughput tool for cancer screening and therapy monitoring.

Graphical Abstract

Serum samples from patients with benign disease and gastric and colon cancer were placed on the surface of phosphor bronze chips comprised of silver nanoscale hexagonal columns to detect the extent of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Differential scattering was observed for samples from patients with benign diseases and those with gastric or colorectal cancer. Moreover, the SERS peak intensities for serum samples from patients with progressive disease were significantly higher than those for serum samples from patients with early disease.

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Section snippets

Study design

In this prospective study, we studied patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and benign diseases at the Digestive Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, between January 2013 and April 2013. The SERS spectra of each serum sample from these patients were analyzed. We hypothesized that a positive signal defined by an adequate cut-off level would be detected in 20% and 80% of the samples from the patients with benign disease and cancer,

Patient characteristics

Patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The group of patients with benign disease included 7 patients with esophageal achalasia and 5 with cholecystolithiasis. Among the 12 gastric cancer patients, 7 (58.3%), 2 (16.7%), and 3 (25.0%) had pT1, 2, and 4 tumors, and 8 (66.7%) patients had lymph node metastases (pN1-3). Of these patients, 6 (50.0%), 2 (16.7%), 2 (16.7%), and 2 (16.7%) belonged to pathological stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. In the patient group with colorectal

Discussion

To improve survival of the cancer patients, it is important to have an early and precise diagnosis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to find a serum protein particular to cancer patients by using SERS. To date, there have been a few reports about cancer diagnosis using SERS,31, 32 but the small sample study presented here is the first report indicating that differences in the constituents of serum between cancer patient and those with benign disease can be detected using SERS analysis.

SERS

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    Trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan, UMIN000009818.

    Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

    Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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