Application of vibrational spectroscopy in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment: Current status and future directions

Lung cancer, as the most prevalent malignancy worldwide, has made the development of its diagnostic and therapeutic technologies a key focus in medical research. This paper aims to comprehensively summarize the research progress of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy in lung cancer management. It further provides a comparative and critical evaluation of the specimen types employed, the spectroscopic techniques, spectral interpretation methods, and algorithmic models used in these studies. Regarding diagnosis, the content elucidated includes studies ranging from the detection of lung cancer in preliminary systemic cancer screening, to the differentiation between benign and malignant pulmonary tumors, and further to qualitative diagnosis and staging research. Regarding therapy, relevant findings include investigating biochemical mechanisms before and after microwave ablation treatment, as well as dynamic monitoring of therapeutic efficacy. The sample types involved in these studies primarily consist of tissues and blood, with a limited number of studies also utilizing saliva and hair. Finally, insights are provided into the current challenges and future development trends of spectroscopic technology in lung cancer research.