Diagnosis of cancer

Abstract

A method is provided including obtaining an infrared (IR) spectrum of a blood plasma sample by analyzing the blood plasma sample by infrared spectroscopy, and based on the infrared spectrum, generating an output indicative of the presence of a solid tumor or a pre-malignant condition. Other applications are also described.

1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining an infrared (IR) spectrum of a blood plasma sample by analyzing the blood plasma sample by infrared spectroscopy; and   based on the infrared spectrum, generating an output indicative 5 of the presence of a solid tumor or a pre-malignant condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein generating the output comprises generating the output indicative of the presence of the solid tumor. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the blood plasma sample by infrared (IR) spectroscopy comprises analyzing the blood plasma sample by Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and wherein obtaining the infrared (IR) spectrum comprises obtaining a Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectrum. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein analyzing the blood plasma sample by infrared (IR) spectroscopy comprises analyzing the blood plasma sample by Fourier
 Transformed Infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR-MSP).   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing a characteristic of the blood plasma sample at at least one wavenumber selected from the group consisting of: 759±4 cm-1, 987±4 cm-1, 1172±4 cm-1, 1270±4 cm-1, 1283±4 cm-1, and 1393±4 cm-1. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing the characteristic at at least two wavenumbers selected from the group. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing the characteristic at at least three wavenumbers selected from the group. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing a characteristic of the blood plasma sample at at least one wavenumber selected from the group consisting of: 743±4 cm-1, 793±4 cm-1, 808±4 cm-1, 847±4 cm-1, 850±4 cm-1, 895±4 cm-1, 950±4 cm-1, 961±4 cm-1, 963±4, 967±4 cm-1, 975±4 cm-1, 997±4 cm-1, 1008±4 cm-1, 1030±4 cm-1, 1031±4 cm-1, 1048±4 cm-1, 1120±4 cm-1, 1150±4 cm-1, 1159±4 cm-1, 1188±4 cm-1, 1205±4 cm-1, 1220±4 cm-1, 30 1221±4 cm-1, 1255±4 cm-1, 1322±4 cm-1, 1326±4 cm-1, 1341±4 cm-1, 1356±4 cm-1 1370±4 cm-1, 1372±4 cm-1, 1402±4 cm-1, 1415±4 cm-1, and 1555±4 cm-1, 1595±4 cm-1, 1653±4 cm-1, 1681±4 cm-1. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing the characteristic at at least two wavenumbers selected from the group. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein analyzing comprises 5 assessing the characteristic at at least three wavenumbers selected from the group. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein assessing the characteristic comprises analyzing a band of the IR spectrum at at least one wavenumber selected from the group. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid tumor includes a solid tumor in an organ selected from the group consisting of: lung, pancreas, prostate, bladder, and gastrointestinal tract, and wherein generating the output comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of a solid tumor in an organ selected from the group. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid tumor includes breast cancer, and wherein generating the output comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of breast cancer. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the blood plasma sample comprises obtaining a second derivative of the infrared (IR) spectrum of the blood plasma sample. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blood plasma sample includes a dried blood plasma sample and analyzing the blood plasma sample comprises analyzing the dried blood plasma sample. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the infrared (IR) spectrum includes an absorption spectrum and obtaining the infrared (IR) spectrum comprises obtaining the absorption spectrum. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the infrared (IR) spectrum includes a reflection spectrum and obtaining the infrared (IR) spectrum comprises obtaining the reflection spectrum. 
     
     
         18 . A method for monitoring the effect of an anti-cancer treatment on a subject undergoing anti-cancer treatment for a solid tumor, for use with a first blood plasma sample separated from blood of the subject that was obtained prior to initiation of the treatment and a second blood plasma sample separated from blood of the subject that was obtained after initiation of the treatment, the method comprising:
 obtaining IR spectra of the first and second blood plasma samples by analyzing the first and second blood plasma samples by 5 IR spectroscopy; and   based on the IR spectra, generating an output indicative of the effect of the treatment.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein analyzing the first and second blood plasma samples by IR spectroscopy comprises analyzing the samples by Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, and wherein obtaining the IR spectra comprises obtaining Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectra. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein analyzing the first and second blood plasma samples by infrared (IR) spectroscopy comprises analyzing the first and second blood plasma samples by Fourier Transformed Infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR-MSP). 
     
     
         21 - 39 . (canceled)