Development of high-throughput ATR-FTIR technology for rapid triage of brain cancer

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 4501 - 9
• Main Authors: Butler, Holly J., Brennan, Paul M., Cameron, James M., Finlayson, Duncan, Hegarty, Mark G., Jenkinson, Michael D., Palmer, David S., Smith, Benjamin R., Baker, Matthew J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 08.10.2019; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 119/118; 140/125; 692/308/575; 692/4028/67/1536; 692/700/139/1420; Adult; Aged; Biopsy; Blood Chemical Analysis - economics; Blood Chemical Analysis - methods; Brain; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - pathology; Brain cancer; Brain Neoplasms - blood; Brain Neoplasms - diagnosis; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Cancer; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fourier transforms; Health care; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infrared reflection; Infrared spectroscopy; Instrumentation; Learning algorithms; Machine learning; Male; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Neuroimaging; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Sample preparation; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sensitivity and Specificity; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared - economics; Stability; Technology; Time Factors; Triage - economics; Triage - methods; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12527-5

Non-specific symptoms, as well as the lack of a cost-effective test to triage patients in primary care, has resulted in increased time-to-diagnosis and a poor prognosis for brain cancer patients. A rapid, cost-effective, triage test could significantly improve this patient pathway. A blood test using attenuated total reflection (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for the detection of brain cancer, alongside machine learning technology, is advancing towards clinical translation. However, whilst the methodology is simple and does not require extensive sample preparation, the throughput of such an approach is limited. Here we describe the development of instrumentation for the analysis of serum that is able to differentiate cancer and control patients at a sensitivity and specificity of 93.2% and 92.8%. Furthermore, preliminary data from the first prospective clinical validation study of its kind are presented, demonstrating how this innovative technology can triage patients and allow rapid access to imaging. Diagnosing brain cancer is frequently difficult and requires specialist equipment. Here, the authors develop their previous attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method and incoporate the use of disposable silicon wafers for diagnosing brain cancer using serum samples.