PROF, ASOC - Rong Wang
Rong (Rose) Wangwangrong@umkc.edu
FTIR spectroscopy is an emerging biochemical analytical technique that provides quantitative information of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates in the form of characteristic spectrum, called “biomolecular fingerprinting”. It is sensitive enough to probe subtle molecular changes in DNA bases, protein secondary structures and phospholipid peroxidation. FTIR spectroscopy has been shown to detect early cellular changes associated with malignant transformation long before the emergence of morphological abnormalities, supporting its potential in early cancer detection. With a microscope coupled to an FTIR spectrometer, FTIR imaging allows for precise and spatially resolved biochemical analysis of a sample, with each pixel containing a full FTIR spectrum. Using FTIR imaging aided by machine learning (ML), we successfully trained preliminary classifiers achieving up to 100% accuracy in discriminating oral cancer from benign oral tissues based on their epithelial spectra. Our results also demonstrated, for the first time, the potential of FTIR imaging in risk stratification of precancerous oral lesions. Inspired by our early findings, we are developing an FTIR imaging-based and machine learning-empowered system for early detection of oral cancer.
School of Dentistry
Aug 19, 2024
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