Modern problems in the diagnosis of oncological pathologies using spectroscopic methods of analysis are considered. Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy methods are illustrated by investigation of tissues of breast, thyroid gland, stomach, kidney, lung, and skin excised during surgical intervention. IR spectra of surgical material are compared with data of histological analysis. Spectra of proteins and lipids in malignant neoplasms differ from those in benign tumors and in tissues beyond the pathological focus. Differences in protein spectra are attributed to changes in the supramolecular structure due to cleavage of intramolecular C=OH-N hydrogen bonds. Differences in IR spectra of lipids in neoplasms, when compared with those in normal tissues, are caused by changes in the structure of side chains of fatty-acid radicals appearing in malignant tumors. Spectral signatures of malignant pathology are revealed.Introduction. Timely detection of oncological pathology is of prime importance for selecting effective methods for treating oncological diseases. However, the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms is a very complicated aspect of oncology because tumors often manifest clinically as various symptoms, especially in early stages.The essence of the problem is that diagnostic methods currently used in medical practice such as visual, palpation, ultrasound, and x-ray, in addition to MRI and CT are capable in principle of detecting only a tumorous mass. The final conclusion about whether the detected pathology is benign or malignant is made based on morphological investigations. A correct diagnosis is possible only with careful adherence to procedures for obtaining and processing the material to be analyzed. Important considerations for a reliable diagnosis are subjective factors such as the special professional training and experience of the surgeon and a highly qualified pathologist.The morphological diagnosis of a tumor is established based on a whole set of signatures such as cytological characteristics, cell topography, their relationships to basal membranes, vessels, and the condition of the stroma, which acts as a mediator between neoplasms and the organism as a whole. Morphological signatures of malignancy are idiosyncratic to each organ and tissue and can vary considerably. Therefore, both clinical data and results of laboratory tests are very significant for a differential diagnosis of malignant tumors and elucidation of the factors stimulating malignant growth. Information about the tumor location, its growth rate, and the age of the patient can in several instances play a decisive role in the morphological diagnosis [1]. Nevertheless, available morphological data can in many cases be insufficient for an accurate verification of the pathological (tumor) process so that a conclusion about whether the tumor is benign or malignant is presumptuous in nature [2]. Because fundamental life processes, from single-celled organisms to man, are carried out on the molecular level, novel methods that investigate the pathology o...

543.422.4 We used infrared spectroscopy methods to study the molecular structure of tissues from human organs removed during surgery. The IR spectra of the surgical material from breast, thyroid, and lung are compared with data from histological examination. We show that in malignant neoplasms, a change occurs in the hydrogen bonds of protein macromolecules found in the tissue of the studied organs. We identify the spectral signs of malignant pathology.Introduction. Generally successful treatment of cancers is possible when the disease is diagnosed early. Diagnostic methods known today such as visual, palpation, ultrasound, x-ray methods as well as nuclear magnetic resonance and computed tomography methods identify tumorous formations. The complete oncological diagnosis is established based on morphological (cytological and histological) examinations with detailed characterization of the structure of the tumor in all its aspects. In a number of cases, morphological data may be insufficient for accurate verification of the pathological (tumorous) process, and the conclusion about whether the tumor is benign or malignant may be tentative [1].Since for one-celled organisms to humans, the underlying life processes are realized at the molecular level, in order to identify the signs of the presence in the body of a malignant tumor, in addition to existing diagnostic methods we need to develop methods which study organ pathology at the level of molecular structure and interactions. In this case, the determining role in vital processes is played by proteins, the functioning of which is mainly determined by their structural organization [2]. Therefore the problem of studying the structure of proteins is one of the central problems in modern biology and medicine.Recently, owing to the high information content of IR spectroscopy methods and their sensitivity to structural changes and composition of molecules, attempts have been made to use such methods in biomedicine, including oncology [3][4][5][6]. It is assumed that IR spectroscopy methods are potentially capable of identifying signs which can be used to distinguish between a malignant tumor and other focal changes in tissues and organs at the level of molecular interactions [4].In order to identify the spectral signs of malignancy, in this work we have studied the IR spectra of tumorous formations in the breast, thyroid, and lung removed during surgery.Materials and Methods. The materials for the study were tissue sections of a pathological focus and outside its borders in organs removed during surgery. The sections were obtained on an MZ-2 freezing microtome with an OMT freezer. A fragment of the test tissue of size 0.3-2.0 cm 2 and thickness of about 0.5 cm was placed on a cooled stage and frozen for 2-4 min down to -10 o C. After freezing, the material was sliced. For the spectroscopic studies, the tissue sections obtained of thickness to 20 µm were transferred to a fluorite substrate (CaF 2 ) and dried under room conditions. The spectra of the sections were reco...

543.422.4 IR spectroscopy methods have been adopted for investigating resected tissues of mammary glands. IR spectra of surgical material are compared with histological data. Spectra of proteins and lipids in malignant tumors are shown to be different from those in benign tumors and in tissues outside the pathologically impacted volume. Differences in the protein spectra are due to changes in the supramolecular structure because of the cleavage of intramolecular C=O⋅⋅⋅H-N H-bonds. Spectral signatures of malignant pathologies are identified.

543.422.4 We used infrared spectroscopy methods to study thyroid tumor tissues removed during surgery. The IR spectra of the surgical material are compared with data from histological examination. We show that in malignant neoplasms, the spectra of proteins in the region of C=O vibrations are different from the spectra of these substances in benign tumors and in tissues outside the pathological focus at a distance >1 cm from the margin of the tumor. The differences in the spectra are due to changes in the supermolecular structure of the proteins, resulting from rearrangement of the system of hydrogen bonds. We identify the spectral signs of malignant pathologies. Introduction.A steady trend of increasing malignant neoplasms has been observed worldwide. A rather high level of increase in cancers of such a specialized endocrine organ as the thyroid gland has been identified in the Republic of Belarus, compared with other human organs [1]. Accordingly, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of thyroid cancers are urgent problems in modern medicine.Diagnosis of malignant neoplasms is the most complicated part of oncology, since tumors are far from always clinically apparent as specific symptoms, especially in the early stages [2]. Since the underlying life processes are realized at the molecular level, a promising approach to studying thyroid cancer problems is to use methods which study organ pathology at the level of molecular structure and molecular interactions. Recently, owing to the high sensitivity and information content of IR spectroscopy methods relative to structural changes and the composition of molecules, attempts have been made to use such methods in biomedicine, in particular oncology [3][4][5][6][7]. It is assumed that IR spectroscopy methods are potentially capable of identifying signs which can be used to distinguish between a malignant tumor and other focal changes in human tissues and organs at the molecular interaction level [4]. In order to identify the spectral signs of malignancy in the thyroid gland, in this work we have studied the IR spectra of tumorous formations removed during surgery.Materials and Methods. The materials for the study were fragments of thyroid tissue removed during surgery. In addition to proteins, the tissues included water, polycarbohydrates, lipids, hormones, biosynthesis and decomposition products entering the bloodstream and also drugs given to the patients the day before and during the surgeries. These components, along with the proteins, can absorb IR radiation. We need to minimize the effect of the components listed above on the IR spectra of the proteins. This was achieved by satisfying specific conditions for preparing the samples for the spectroscopic measurements.With the aim of eliminating residues of blood and water-soluble components, the tissue fragments were washed repeatedly with distilled water; to remove lipids and other organic substances of non-protein origin, the samples were placed in CCl 4 for 2 h. After extraction, the tissue fragments were pl...

We use Fourier transform IR spectroscopy to study thyroid tumor tissues which were removed during surgery. The IR spectra of the tissues with pathological foci are compared with data from histologic examination. In the region of N-H, C-H, and C=O stretching vibrations, the IR spectra of the tissues for thyroid cancer are different from the IR spectra of tissues without malignant formations. We identify the spectral signs of thyroid cancer. We show that IR analysis is promising for identification of thyroid pathology at the molecular level. Introduction.A considerably faster increase in thyroid cancer has been observed after the Chernobyl disaster, compared with malignant neoplasms in other human organs [1]. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thyroid cancers are urgent problems in modern medicine. Diagnosis of malignant neoplasms is the most complicated part of oncology, since tumors are far from always clinically apparent as specific symptoms, especially in the early stages [2]. Recently, owing to the information content and high sensitivity of IR spectroscopy methods to structural changes in protein and lipid macromolecules, there have been attempts at broader application of IR spectroscopy methods in oncology [3][4][5][6].With the aim of identifying the spectral signs of malignant thyroid tumors, in this work we have studied the IR spectra of nodal formations after hemithyroidectomy or total removal of the gland. Diagnosis of malignant neoplasms in human thyroid tissues was based on the IR measurements. We obtained quantitative spectral data on cancers of tissues at the molecular level. The results of the spectroscopic measurements are compared with data from morphological examinations.Materials and Methods. The material for examination were fragments of pathological foci in thyroid glands removed during surgery from patients at the Minsk cancer treatment center. Tissues of human organs are a multicomponent system including proteins, lipids, water, polycarbohydrates, hormones, biosynthesis and decomposition products entering the bloodstream, and also drugs given to the patients the day before and during the surgeries. These components can absorb IR radiation and make a certain contribution to the total IR spectrum of the thyroid tissue. On going from normal health to malignancy, the structure of proteins and the composition of lipid molecules change in the cells. Using these molecular changes in the tumor tissues for diagnostic purposes is recommended in [6].In the diagnostic procedure, we need to minimize the effect of secondary components on the IR spectra. This problem was solved by meeting the necessary conditions for preparation of samples for spectra analysis. With the aim of extracting unbound lipid molecules and organic compounds of non-protein origin, the fragments of pathological foci were placed in CCl 4 after removal of blood residues. After extraction, the tissue fragments were placed between BaF 2 windows and mashed in order to obtain the layer thickness required for the spectroscopic measure...