Combining SERS analysis of serum with PSA levels for improving the detection of prostate cancer

Abstract

Aim: Previous studies regarding surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of serum have shown promising initial results in discriminating prostate cancer, a strategy which could complement standard tests such as the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Materials & methods: SERS spectra of serum samples were combined with serum PSA levels to improve the discrimination accuracy between prostate cancer and nonmalignant pathologies in a cohort of 54 patients using principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA). Results & discussion: Combining SERS spectra with serum PSA levels in a single PCA-LDA model could discriminate between the two groups with an overall accuracy of 94%, yielding better results than either method alone. Conclusion: These results highlight that combining SERS-based cancer screening with serum PSA levels represents a promising strategy for improving the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis.