Raman Spectroscopy in Prostate Cancer: Techniques, Applications and Advancements

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Raman spectroscopic analysis is a promising and powerful optical investigative tool to interrogate tissue and/or biofluids for in vitro and in vivo applications. Fast-acquisition Raman imaging techniques support real-time, objective evaluation of molecular tissue composition in prostate cancer. Within the capability of non-destructive and non-invasive imaging, Raman spectroscopy-based techniques offer a reliable tool for cancer detection. There is a push for intraoperative use and/or multimodal imaging approaches that utilise the strength of each spectroscopic modality to improve prostate cancer detection and treatment. ABSTRACT: Optical techniques are widely used tools in the visualisation of biological species within complex matrices, including biopsies, tissue resections and biofluids. Raman spectroscopy is an emerging analytical approach that probes the molecular signature of endogenous cellular biomolecules under biocompatible conditions with high spatial resolution. Applications of Raman spectroscopy in prostate cancer include biopsy analysis, assessment of surgical margins and monitoring of treatment efficacy. The advent of advanced Raman imaging techniques, such as stimulated Raman scattering, is creating opportunities for real-time in situ evaluation of prostate cancer. This review provides a focus on the recent preclinical and clinical achievements in implementing Raman-based techniques, highlighting remaining challenges for clinical applications. The research and clinical results achieved through in vivo and ex vivo Raman spectroscopy illustrate areas where these evolving technologies can be best translated into clinical practice.