In the present study micro-FT-IR spectroscopy was used in order to study, the molecular structure of various breast cancers tissues. 17 samples from the Metaxas Anticancer Hospital Bank were used.From this study it has been found that the micro-FT-IR spectroscopy is a method that could be used to study complex biological systems such as tissues and cells, since information relative to the changes of the organic molecules that constitute cancerous tissues can be received. The classification of the spectra was based on the original histopathological classification of tumor tissues.In general, the observed differences in spectra concerned healthy and neoplastic tissues. Although the differences were significant throughout the spectrum area (4000-700 cm-1), in this particular study the spectrum was demerged into smaller zones, in which the characteristic vibration bands of the chemical groups of biological molecules were included. The aim is to use these zones as diagnostic areas for pre-diagnosis of breast cancer.The spectra of tumor tissue were compared with healthy tissue spectra, using the regions where the vibration bands of the chemical groups absorb: vNH (δNH), vC = O, vCH3 (δCH3), vCH2 (δCH2), Amide I, II and DNA. The bands of these groups also give information about the secondary structure of proteins and DNA helix.Comparison between the representative spectra of cancer (K) and connective (C) tissues in the region 3000-2800 cm-1 shows that there is no any hypomethylation effect of proteins in K tissues and higher membrane fluidity in C tissues.The blue shift of the absorption bands of amide I and II, are determined that cancer cells alter their secondary structure of proteins. In invasive cancer those bands are shifted towards higher wavenumbers.The shift of the absorption band of C-OH group at 1161 cm-1 for the connective tissue and at 1172 cm-1 for cancer tissue, compared to the healthy tissue, is associated with increased phosphorylation during carcinogenesis. Finally, changes in the bending vibrations of O-P-O at 950 cm-1 show changes in the molecular structure of DNA of solid cancers. This change associates with the grade of the cancer.From the study of tumor tissue it has been clear that the micro-FT-IR spectroscopy can be used as a pre-diagnostic and diagnostic method for the development and progression of breast cancer at a molecular level.
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