Evaluation of FTIR spectroscopy as diagnostic tool for colorectal cancer using spectral analysis

•Colorectal cancer tissues and normal colorectal tissue was studied by FTIR spectroscopy.•IR spectra of tissue were investigated.•The FTIR spectrum of each sample identified 12 bands from 1000 to 4000 cm−1.•FTIR spectroscopy can identify colorectal cancer and colorectal tissues.

The aim of this study is to confirm FTIR spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for colorectal cancer. 180 freshly removed colorectal samples were collected from 90 patients for spectrum analysis. The ratios of spectral intensity and relative intensity (/I1460) were calculated. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Fisher’s discriminant analysis (FDA) were applied to distinguish the malignant from normal. The FTIR parameters of colorectal cancer and normal tissues were distinguished due to the contents or configurations of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Related to nitrogen containing, water, protein and nucleic acid were increased significantly in the malignant group. Six parameters were selected as independent factors to perform discriminant functions. The sensitivity for FTIR in diagnosing colorectal cancer was 96.6% by discriminant analysis. Our study demonstrates that FTIR can be a useful technique for detection of colorectal cancer and may be applied in clinical colorectal cancer diagnosis.

Graphical abstractOf 180 samples colorectal cancer and colorectal tissues, the majority of majority peaks were in the 1000–1800 cm−1 region. FTIR mean spectra from the two groups.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide