Raman spectroscopy in oncology for predicting malignant diseases: A literature review

Abstract

Relevance: This literature review examines scientific publications on the efficacy of optical spectroscopy methods, including
Raman spectroscopy (RS), for the early diagnosis of tumors in oncology.
The study aimed to summarize the existing data, analyze their effectiveness in studying cancer located in different organs through Raman spectroscopy, and assess their diagnostic potential in oncology.
Methods: The literature search covered publications from 2015 to May 2025 using keyword-based database queries. After removing duplicates, articles were screened via abstracts and full texts. The research team reviewed all selected papers. All authors agreed upon a final list of 22 articles, with relevant data synthesized into this review.
Results: Optical spectroscopy (OS) has proven to be an effective tool for diagnosing, monitoring, and predicting malignant tumors in experimental and clinical studies. Over the past 20 years, RS has demonstrated 90% accuracy and specificity in early cancer detection and advantages in bioavailability, speed, clarity, and multiplex analysis-key factors driving its growing interest in biological research. However, foreign and domestic literature analysis revealed a lack of standardized protocols for RS in cancer
diagnostics, highlighting the need for optimized, systematic guidelines.
While promising, RS remains underexplored and requires further research to translate findings into routine clinical practice.
Conclusion: Recent advancements in optical spectroscopy, particularly Raman methods, contribute to deeper cellular-level insights into oncological mechanisms and improve predictive diagnostics.