Use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering for detection of cancer-related serum-constituents in gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Laser-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has industrial and biological applications. We have developed a rapid and simple method for generating silver nanoscale hexagonal columns (NHCs) on the surface of a phosphor bronze chip for measurement of SERS spectra. This was used to detect SERS spectra from blood samples obtained from patients with gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, or benign diseases (n=12 each) using a low intensity helium-neon red laser beam with a 632.8-nm wavelength; the intensity of the SERS spectra was compared among the patient groups. The peak heights of SERS spectra from patients with benign diseases were significantly lower than those from patients with gastric or colorectal cancer, whereas those from patients with gastric cancer and colorectal cancer did not differ significantly. Thus, SERS using NHC chips holds promise for the easier and faster detection of cancer-related serum-constituents as biomarkers. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: In this study, laser-mediated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was utilized as a sensitive detection method of cancer-related serum-constituents in gastric and colorectal cancer, via the use of silver nanoscale hexagonal columns on the surface of a phosphor bronze chip for measurement of SERS spectra, paving the way to the development of a rapid and high throughput tool for cancer screening and therapy monitoring.