A study of hormonal effects in cervical smear samples using Raman spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Chemical Analysis
• Gynecologic Oncology

Background:

• Raman spectroscopy offers a label-free, cost-effective method for biochemical fingerprinting of biological samples.
• Cervical cancer screening can be enhanced by advanced spectroscopic techniques.
• Patient-specific biochemical variations may impact diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of hormonal variations on Raman spectroscopy analysis of cervical samples.
• To determine if menstrual cycle, hormone-based contraceptives (HC), or menopause affect the identification of dyskaryotic cells.
• To assess the robustness of Raman spectroscopy for cervical cancer screening amidst hormonal fluctuations.

Main Methods:

• Raman spectra were acquired from unstained ThinPrep cervical samples (cytology negative and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion - HSIL).
• Analysis involved correlating spectral data with clinical information including menstrual cycle phase, HC use, and menopausal status.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing was conducted concurrently.

Main Results:

• Spectral variations were observed correlating with the menstrual cycle and HC usage.
• Despite observed spectral changes, HSIL samples were successfully discriminated from normal cells.
• The diagnostic capability of Raman spectroscopy remained effective irrespective of hormonal status or sample timing.

Conclusions:

• Raman spectroscopy is a viable tool for cervical cancer screening, demonstrating resilience to hormonal variability.
• Hormonal effects, including menstrual cycle and HC use, do not impede the accurate identification of HSIL.
• This technique holds potential for reliable, non-invasive cervical cancer detection in diverse patient populations.