Mesoscopic characterization of prostate cancer using Raman spectroscopy: potential for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Objective: To test if Raman spectroscopy (RS) is an appropriate tool for the diagnosis and possibly grading of prostate cancer (PCa).

Patients And Methods: Between 20 and 50 Raman spectra were acquired from 32 fresh and non-processed post-prostatectomy specimens using a macroscopic handheld RS probe. Each measured area was characterized and categorized according to histopathological criteria: tissue type (extraprostatic or prostatic); tissue malignancy (benign or malignant); cancer grade (Grade Groups [GGs] 1-5); and tissue glandular level.