Application of Raman and ATR-MIR Spectroscopy in Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis Combined with Chemometrics Techniques: A Review

Colorectal Cancer (CC) is recognized as the third most prevalent cancer worldwide and constitutes a major cause of cancer-related fatalities among both genders. Current diagnostic approaches for CC exhibit several notable limitations; they are frequently invasive, their accuracy may vary based on the operator and the patient, and they might lack sufficient precision. Raman Spectroscopy (RS) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy have surfaced as promising alternatives owing to their potential as swift and noninvasive diagnostic modalities. Nevertheless, spectroscopic methods produce extensive and intricate datasets characterized by overlapping peaks and subtle differences, which complicates direct visual interpretation. This review is dedicated to examining the chemometric techniques utilized in RS and IR spectroscopy for the diagnosis and evaluation of CC. Throughout this paper, we explore the experimental applications of chemometrics in conjunction with RS and IR spectroscopy. Chemometric algorithms, when integrated with RS and IR spectroscopy, have demonstrated their efficacy as robust tools for the detection, classification, and analysis of various colorectal cancer matrices. Indeed, it has been shown how chemometrics can be effectively applied in a variety of CC analysis.