Infrared (ir) spectroscopy system

Abstract

A system is provided comprising an FTIR spectrometer configured to obtain a Fourier Transformed infrared (FTIR) spectrum of a Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) sample of the subject; a data processor operable with the FTIR spectrometer, and configured to analyze the infrared (IR) spectrum of the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) sample of the subject by assessing a characteristic of the sample of the subject at at least one wavenumber; and an output unit, configured to generate an output indicative of the presence of a solid tumor, based on the infrared (IR) spectrum. Other embodiments are also provided.

1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining an infrared “IR” spectrum of a Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells 5 “PBMC” sample, extracted from a peripheral blood sample collected from a subject, by analyzing the PBMC sample by infrared spectroscopy;   based on the infrared spectrum, determining whether the subject has a solid tumor; and   generating an output indicative of the presence of a solid tumor based on the step of determining whether the subject has a solid tumor.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the PBMC sample by infrared “IR” spectroscopy comprises analyzing the PBMC sample by Fourier Transformed Infrared “FTIR” spectroscopy, and wherein obtaining the infrared “IR” spectrum comprises obtaining a Fourier Transformed Infrared “FTIR” spectrum. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing a characteristic of the PBMC sample at at least one wavenumber selected from the group consisting of: 765±4 cm −1 , 798±4 cm −1 , 809±4 cm −1 , 814±4 cm −1 , 875±4 cm −1 , 997±4 cm −1 , 1001±4 cm −1 , 1015±4 cm −1 , 1103±4 cm −1 , 1118±4 cm −1 , 1162±4 cm −1 , 1221±4 cm −1 , 1270±4 cm −1 , 1283±4 cm −1 , 1295±4 cm −1 , 1315±4 cm −1 , 1341±4 cm −1 , 1367±4 cm −1 , 1392±4 cm −1 , 1429±4 cm −1 , 1440±4 cm −1 , 1445±4 cm −1  and 1455±4 cm −1 . 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing the characteristic at at least two wavenumbers selected from the group. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein assessing the characteristic comprises analyzing a band of the IR spectrum surrounding at least one wavenumber selected from the group. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the sample comprises obtaining a second derivative of the infrared “IR” spectrum of the sample. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein generating the output comprises indicating via the output whether the solid tumor is a first type of solid tumor or second type of solid tumor. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid tumor includes a solid tumor in tissue selected from the group consisting of: prostate, lung, head and neck, esophagus, and pancreas, and wherein generating the output comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of a solid tumor in tissue selected from the group. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid tumor includes a solid tumor in breast tissue and wherein generating the output comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of the solid tumor in the breast tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing a characteristic of the PBMC sample at at least one wavenumber selected from the group consisting of: 752±4 cm −1 , 1030±4 cm −1 , 1046±4 cm −1 , 1128±4 cm −1 , 1237±4 cm −1 , and wherein generating comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of the tumor in the breast tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solid tumor includes a solid tumor in gastrointestinal tract tissue, and wherein generating the output comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of the solid tumor in the gastrointestinal tract tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing a characteristic of the PBMC sample at at least one wavenumber selected from the group consisting of: 797±4 cm −1 , 830±4 cm −1 , 893±4 cm −1 , 899±4 cm −1 , 1128±4 cm −1 , 1298±4 cm −1 , 1354±4 cm −1 , 1714±4 cm −1 , 1725±4 cm −1 , 1738±4 cm −1 , and 3013±4 cm −1 , and wherein generating comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of the tumor in the gastrointestinal tract tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing a characteristic of the PBMC sample at at least one wavenumber selected from the group consisting of: 765±4 cm −1 , 780±4 cm −1 , 797±4 cm −1 , 851±4 cm −1 , 874±4 cm −1 , 881±4 cm −1 , 913±4 cm −1 , 923±4 cm −1 , 958±4 cm −1 , 968±4 cm −1 , 1044±4 cm −1 , 1085±4 cm −1 , 1191±4 cm −1 , 1241±4 cm −1 , 1344±4 cm −1 , 1373±4 cm −1 , 1417±4 cm −1 , 1458±4 cm −1 , 1469±4 cm −1 , 1692±4 cm −1 , 1714±4 cm −1 , 1728±4 cm −1 , 2852±4 cm −1 , and 2984±4 cm −1 , and wherein generating comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of a tumor in lung tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein analyzing comprises assessing a characteristic of the PBMC sample at at least one wavenumber selected from the group consisting of: 828±4 cm −1 , 932±4 cm −1 , 997±4 cm −1 , 1059±4 cm −1 , 1299±4 cm −1 , 1302±4 cm −1 , 1403±4 cm −1 , 1454±4 cm −1 , 1714±4 cm −1 , 2979±4 cm −1 , and 3013±4 cm −1 , and wherein generating comprises generating an output indicative of the presence of a tumor in prostate tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein generating an output indicative of the presence of a solid tumor comprises generating an output indicative of a stage of the solid tumor.