Label-free Raman Imaging to Monitor Breast Tumor Signatures

ORAL

Abstract

Methods built on Raman spectroscopy have shown major potential in describing and discriminating between malignant and benign specimens. Accurate, real-time medical diagnosis benefits from substantial improvements through this vibrational optical method. Not only is acquisition of data possible in milliseconds and analysis possible in minutes, but Raman allows concurrent detection and monitoring of all biological components. Besides validating a significant Raman signature distinction between non-tumorigenic (MCF-10A) and tumorigenic (MCF-7) breast epithelial cells, this study reveals a label-free method of assessing overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in tumor cells. EGFR overexpression gives rise to Raman features associated with phosphorylated threonine and serine, and modifications of DNA/RNA characteristics. Investigations by gel electrophoresis reveal EGF induction of phosphorylated Akt, agreeing with the Raman results. The analysis presented is a vital step toward Raman-based evaluation of EGF receptors in breast cancer cells. With the goal of clinically applying Raman-guided methods for diagnosis of breast tumors, the current results lay the basis for proving label-free optical alternatives for prognosis of the disease.

–

Authors

  • John Ciubuc

    Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Biomedical Engineering

  • Giulio Francia

    Department of Biological Sciences

  • Qiye Zheng

    Santa Fe Institute, Baylor University, University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Jozef Stefan Institute, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas 75429, Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Texas A&M University, Department of Physics, Texas State University, Department of Physics, Baylor University, University of Texas at El Paso, Univ of Texas, El Paso, University of Science and Technology of China, The University of Texas at Dallas, Faculty, None, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Texas A&M University - Commerce, UT Southwestern Medical Center, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, The Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas State Univ-San Marcos, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Univ of Texas, Dallas, N.Chiao Tung U., UT Dallas, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Utrecht University, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Baylor University, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Chicago, The University of Mississippi, Astronomical Observatory, Warsaw University, Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, University of Houston, NASA-GSFC and UMBC, MD, Virginia Tech, VA, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Physics, Teivecca Nazarene University, Weatherford College, Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, WPAFB, OH, USA, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, KAFB, NM, US, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio TX, USA, University of Arizona, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Texas A\&M University, UTSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375

  • Marian Manciu

    Physics Department, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics

  • Emma Sundin

    University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering

  • Kevin Bennet

    Mayo Clinic, Division of Engineering, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Rochester MN 55905 USA, Mayo Clinic, Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Division of Engineering, Rochester MN 55905 USA

  • Felicia Manciu

    University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics, Border Biomedical Research Center, El Paso TX 79968 USA