Machine Learning and Synchrotron Imaging: Advancing Early Cancer Diagnostics

Trace biometals in biological samples have shown potential as cancer biomarkers, but their spatial analysis for early cancer diagnostics remains challenging. In a recent study lead by J. J. Okonda, and conducted at the Department of Physics at the University of Nairobi, researchers have explored the feasibility of utilizing machine learning and synchrotron radiation-based micro X-ray fluorescence imaging to detect trace biometals and identify their spatial distribution as cancer biomarkers. This research was published in the journal Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy (1).

Cancer detection and screening as a treatment for malignant cells with a biopsy or testing caused by carcinogens and genetics with a cancerous cell as an immunotherapy symbol | Image Credit: © freshidea - stock.adobe.com

The team employed principal component analysis (PCA)-enabled artificial neural networks (ANN) to simultaneously determine the spatial profiles of biometals, including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and selenium (Se), in model human cell cultures (DU145 and Vero). By culturing the cell lines on silicon nitride membranes and performing micro X-ray fluorescence (micro XRF) analysis at the TwinMic beamline, Elletra synchrotron source, the researchers obtained high-resolution 2D maps of the trace biometals.

To analyze the complex multivariate relationships between the trace biometals spatial distribution and cancer pathogenesis stages, PCA was employed to reduce the data dimensions. The ANN model, trained using the pixel spectral profiles of the biometals, successfully classified the cell cultures into cancerous and healthy groups. Moreover, the selected spectral profiles enabled the ANN to classify cancerous cells into early, intermediate, and advanced stages based on the fluorescence lines of Fe and Cu, as well as Compton scatter.

The study demonstrated promising results, with high spatial correlations observed between Cu and Fe in cancerous cell cultures compared to normal ones. These findings pave the way for the early diagnosis of cancer by utilizing the alterations in the spatial distribution and multivariate properties of trace biometals as cancer biomarkers.

The integration of machine learning and synchrotron radiation-based micro X-ray fluorescence imaging offers a powerful tool for early cancer detection, providing valuable insights into the intricate relationships between trace biometals and cancer pathogenesis stages. This research contributes to the development of non-invasive and precise diagnostic techniques, bringing us closer to improved cancer management and patient outcomes.

Reference

(1) Okonda, J. J.; Angeyo, H. K.; Dehayem-Kamadjeu, A.; Rogena, A. E. Feasibility for early cancer diagnostics by machine learning enabled synchrotron radiation based micro X-ray fluorescence imaging of trace biometals as cancer biomarkers. Spectrochimica Acta Part B: At. Spectrosc. 2023, 204, 106671. DOI:10.1016/j.sab.2023.106671