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Fluorescence spectroscopy as a potential metabonomic tool for early detection of colorectal cancer

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An Erratum to this article was published on 04 June 2011

Abstract

Fluorescence spectroscopy Excitation Emission Matrix (EEM) measurements were applied on human blood plasma samples from a case control study on colorectal cancer. Samples were collected before large bowel endoscopy and included patients with colorectal cancer or with adenomas, and from individuals with other non malignant findings or no findings (N = 308). The objective of the study was to explore the possibilities for applying fluorescence spectroscopy as a tool for detection of colorectal cancer. Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) was applied to decompose the fluorescence EEMs into estimates of the underlying fluorophores in the sample. Both the pooled score matrix from PARAFAC, holding the relative concentrations of the derived components, and the raw unfolded spectra were used as basis for discrimination models between cancer and the various controls. Both methods gave test set validated sensitivity and specificity values around 0.75 between cancer and controls, and poor discriminations between the various controls. The PARAFAC solution gave better options for analyzing the chemical mechanisms behind the discrimination, and revealed a blue shift in tryptophan emission in the cancer patients, a result that supports previous findings. The present findings show how fluorescence spectroscopy and chemometrics can help in cancer diagnostics, and with PARAFAC fluorescence spectroscopy can be a potential metabonomic tool.

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Acknowledgments

The VILLUM FOUNDATION is thanked for funding Anders Juul Lawaetz. Abdelrhani Mourhib is thanked for his laboratory assistance. Knud Nielsen, Randers Hospital, Søren Laurberg, Aarhus Hospital, Jesper Olsen, Glostrup Hospital and Hans B Rahr, Odense Hospital, are acknowledged for their contribution to the original protocol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science, Quality and Technology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 30, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Anders Juul Lawaetz, Rasmus Bro & Maja Kamstrup-Nielsen

  2. Finsen Laboratory, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Ib Jarle Christensen

  3. Department of Surgery, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lars N. Jørgensen

  4. Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark

    Hans J. Nielsen

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  1. Anders Juul Lawaetz
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  2. Rasmus Bro
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  3. Maja Kamstrup-Nielsen
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  4. Ib Jarle Christensen
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  5. Lars N. Jørgensen
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  6. Hans J. Nielsen
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Correspondence to Anders Juul Lawaetz.

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Lawaetz, A.J., Bro, R., Kamstrup-Nielsen, M. et al. Fluorescence spectroscopy as a potential metabonomic tool for early detection of colorectal cancer. Metabolomics 8 (Suppl 1), 111–121 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-011-0310-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-011-0310-7

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