[Studies on human breast cancer tissues with Raman microspectroscopy]

The microscopic Raman spectra from normal and malignant human breast tissues have been measured and investigated. The spectral differences and changes between normal and malignant breast tissue samples mainly involve: (1) the band from the symmetric stretching modes of PO2- group in the DNA shifts from 1082 to 1097 cm(-1) and becomes stronger. The intensity of the symmetric stretching modes of O-P-O at 817 cm(-1) in RNA increases greatly. (2) The bands of Amide I and III at 1657 and 1273 cm(-1) change to 1662 and 1264 cm(-1) respectively with their intensity and band width increasing. The peak of the C-O stretching modes in the amino acids shifts to higher wave number. The tryptophan band at 1368 cm(-1) almost disappears. (3) Fewer characteristic Raman bands from lipids are observed. These spectral changes indicate that nucleic acids increase in contents relatively, while their conformation changes in cancer tissues. The proteins show various conformations and disorder structures with their molecular hydrogen bonds nearly broken. The contents of lipids decrease obviously. This investigation shows that Raman microspectroscopy is useful to biochemical study and vivo diagnosis of human breast cancers.