Análise por espectroscopia ATR-FTIR da região dos lipídios: distinguindo câncer de mama de doença benigna da mama

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed type globally, and mammography stands as the gold standard for screening, capable of reducing mortality by up to 40%, although its sensitivity varies, especially in dense breasts. Studies emphasize the impact of lipid metabolism on breast cancer, considering them potential biomarkers for early detection and personalized treatment. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy is an analytical technique that provides information about the chemical composition of samples, especially in relation to their interaction with infrared light. By means of this technique it is possible to verify the chemical composition and molecular structure, which can be used to the development of more accurate and less invasive diagnostic tests, important to improve the accuracy of cancer detection and reduce unnecessary biopsies, especially in dense breasts. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical, hormonal and therapeutic characteristics and serum chemistry of women with breast cancer and benign breast disease in order to determine biomarkers with potential diagnostic value. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients from the Uberlândia Clinical hospital were evaluated in the period between 2020 and 2022 and participated as volunteers. Among the 60 women, 27 had benign breast disease (BBD), and 33 had breast cancer (BC). The spectrum was evaluated from the wavenumber 650 to 4000 cm⁻¹ using the Agilent Cary 600 spectrometer coupled with the MCT detector (Mercury cadmium telluride). The spectrum was obtained in triplicate, with a resolution of 4 cm⁻¹, and 128 scans were performed for each measurement. The infrared spectrum was analyzed after baseline correction, minimum and maximum normalization, and second derivative application. Results: Breast cancer (BC) could be distinguished from benign breast disease (BBD) by detecting differences between the two groups in the wavenumber range of 3050 to 2800, lipid vibration spectrum, using principal component analysis followed by support vector machine (PCA-SVM) algorithm, with an accuracy of 80%, sensitivity of 88%, and specificity of 70%. Therefore, through infrared analysis, we could identify lipid molecules capable of diagnosing breast cancer in the bloodstream. Conclusion: Detecting lipids in the blood serum via ATR-FTIR is a minimally invasive method capable of accurately diagnosing breast cancer in patients presenting with a breast nodule. Further studies are needed to validate the results found in this study.