Pioneering Raman spectroscopy for precise breast cancer diagnosis

Breast cancer is a considerable public health challenge globally, and its prevalence is on an upward trajectory. In 2020, approximately 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer were identified across the globe. Noninvasive cancer diagnostics are undergoing transformative advancements globally, with a keen focus on enhancing accuracy. Breast cancer, a leading cause of global mortality, claimed 685,000 lives in 2020. Within this context, Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a pivotal diagnostic technique. By leveraging the Raman scattering phenomenon, it provides a unique ability to chemically distinguish between benign and malignant tumors. Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS), a variant of Raman spectroscopy, further augments this capability by incorporating spatial offset measurements, enabling deeper probing of sample layers. Both Raman spectroscopy and SORS show promise in diagnosing breast cancer. Combining a fluorescence-based approach with Raman spectroscopy yields a synergistic enhancement in diagnostic precision, surpassing prior limitations. This synergistic convergence holds immense potential to elevate the depth and accuracy of cancer diagnosis on a global scale.