1. ¹Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, Centre for Instrumentation and Analytical Science, School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
2. ²Genito Urinary Cancer Research Group, School of Cancer and Imaging Sciences Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, University of Manchester, Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK
3. ³Department of Histopathology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK
4. ⁴Department of Urology, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK
5. ⁵Department of Urology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, M6 8HD, UK

Correspondence: Dr MJ Baker, E-mail: M.J.Baker@manchester.ac.uk

Received 13 May 2008; Revised 28 September 2008; Accepted 1 October 2008; Published online 4 November 2008.

Abstract

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that uses infrared radiation to vibrate molecular bonds within the sample that absorbs it. As different samples contain different molecular bonds or different configurations of molecular bonds, FTIR allows us to obtain chemical information on molecules within the sample. Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy in conjunction with a principal component-discriminant function analysis (PC-DFA) algorithm was applied to the grading of prostate cancer (CaP) tissue specimens. The PC-DFA algorithm is used alongside the established diagnostic measures of Gleason grading and the tumour/node/metastasis system. Principal component-discriminant function analysis improved the sensitivity and specificity of a three-band Gleason score criterion diagnosis previously reported by attaining an overall sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 99.4%. For the first time, we present the use of a two-band criterion showing an association of FTIR-based spectral characteristics with clinically aggressive behaviour in CaP manifest as local and/or distal spread. This paper shows the potential for the use of spectroscopic analysis for the evaluation of the biopotential of CaP in an accurate and reproducible manner.