Enzyme-based signal amplification of surface-enhanced Raman scattering in cancer-biomarker detection

•We focused on recent developments of enzyme-based SERS signal amplification.•The SERS techniques were used in the detection of cancer biomarkers.•Sensitivity and selectivity were enhanced with the SERS techniques.•The SERS techniques have potential for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

Technologies that use surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) have experienced significant growth in biomedical research during the past four years. SERS signal amplification based on enzyme action recently attracted considerable attention due to the need for ultrasensitive bioassays and the trend towards miniaturized assays. This review highlights recent developments in SERS signal-amplification techniques based on enzyme action for cancer-biomarker detection, including multiplexed detection and identification of DNA, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, small bioactive molecules, protein, and tumor cells.