title: Computer assisted optical screening of human ovarian cancer using Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: Conventional screening tools for ovarian cancer such as cancer antigen (CA-125) and trans-pelvic ultrasound have poor sensitivity and specificity, indicating the need for better and more reliable screening methodologies. Here, we investigate the capability of Raman spectroscopy as a screening technique for ovarian cancer. Raman spectra from the blood serum of healthy control and ovarian cancer subjects were measured. Highly significant Raman shifts (p<0.0001) and intensity variations were observed in the cancer group as compared to the healthy group. These spectral differences were exploited by support vector machine classifier towards computer assisted classification. Calculated evaluation metrics such as sensitivity (=90), specificity (=100), positive predictive value (=100) and negative predictive value (=87.5) for such classification indicated that these results are promising, with potential future application of Raman spectroscopy for ovarian cancer screening.
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Science (PIEAS), Nilore 45650, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Science (PIEAS), Nilore 45650, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: iahmadmp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Iftikhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Science (PIEAS), Nilore 45650, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nisar
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Lasers and Optronics (NILOP), Nilore 45650, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saranjam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Lasers and Optronics (NILOP), Nilore 45650, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rahat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Lasers and Optronics (NILOP), Nilore 45650, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rashad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: Citi Lab, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D060388:Support Vector Machine
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Computer assisted classification; Ovarian cancer; Raman spectroscopy; Support vector machine classifier