Editor’s Note

Biological physics is an interdisciplinary field that combines physics with biology, serving as an important branch of both life sciences and physics. Its aim is to elucidate the laws governing the motion of matter, energy, and information in biological systems within specific spatial and temporal contexts. However, the potential role of biophysical techniques in early cancer screening, particularly for liver cancer, remains a burgeoning research area with limited reports. At the International Liver Transplantation Society (ILTS) Annual Meeting held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands from May 3rd to 6th, 2023, Dr. Subathra Radhakrishnan from the Indian National Liver Foundation presented a study that suggests biophysical analysis may offer new means for non-invasive early diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Chronic liver injury can lead to the formation of liver fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis, which may eventually progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is the most common primary liver tumor, and early diagnosis can significantly improve the chances of cure and long-term survival for patients. Histological samples from HCC patients are often used to study abnormal liver pathological structures, while serum samples can reflect liver metabolic abnormalities. Biophysical methods are simple, non-invasive, and label-free analytical techniques known for their high specificity. It is scientifically hypothesized that they might offer a new avenue for early detection and therapeutic intervention in HCC.

This study compared tissue and serum samples from HCC patients (n=10) with those from normal individuals and cirrhosis patients. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a technique used to obtain infrared absorption and emission spectra of solids, liquids, or gases, and Raman spectroscopy, an analytical method that analyzes scattering spectra from different incident light frequencies to obtain information on molecular vibrations and rotations, were employed to analyze these samples. Serum samples were subjected to morphological and elemental composition analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX).

Previous studies have indicated that reduced collagen protein and lipid metabolism reprogramming are key markers of HCC. The mid-term results of this study show that differences in peak positions and major vibration bands in the FTIR spectra of HCC patient samples, when compared to those of normal individuals and cirrhosis patients, are primarily concentrated in collagen protein, amide I, cholesterol, and lipid components. Raman spectroscopy analysis yielded similar results (see Figure 1).

To further validate these findings, we observed clear closure of hepatic sinusoids and changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of HCC tissue samples using scanning electron microscopy. X-ray spectroscopy analysis results demonstrated a deficiency of potassium elements and variations in carbon, oxygen, and sodium content in HCC patient samples when compared to normal individuals and cirrhosis patients (see Figure 2).

The findings of this study suggest that biophysical analysis of HCC patient samples, focusing on changes in collagen protein, amide I, cholesterol, lipid components, and potassium content, may serve as a novel non-invasive diagnostic approach for early detection of HCC.

Reference: Biophysical characterization of HCC liver and serum samples compared with Normal and cirrhotic – an insight into the biomarker identification and early detection. ILTS 2023 Abstract No. O-094