Lung cancer detection by native fluorescence spectra of body fluids--a preliminary study

Lung cancer takes a heavy toll every year, since the survival rate is not more than 15%. In this paper, we present results of a novel technique based on the autofluorescence of body fluids like blood plasma, acetone extract of cellular components, sputa and urine of lung cancer patients (N=27). A set of ratio parameters based on the fluorescence peaks of tryptophan and elastin, in plasma and sputum; flavin, NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and porphyrin in urine; porphyrin alone in acetone extract of formed elements, were all evaluated. Similar sets of ratios were obtained for age adjusted normal controls (N=27) and all these ratios were given as inputs to multivariate (principle component and discriminant) analyses, which showed that the two groups could be classified with an accuracy of about 90%. Since the instrumentation involved was an ordinary steady state Xe lamp based spectrofluorometer, the technique is of significant advantage in screening and early detection of lung cancer in high risk population such as heavy smokers.