Zhiwei Huang and co-workers, National University of Singapore, have developed a new genetic algorithm-partial least squares-discriminant analysis for appraising Raman spectra. This algorithm could allow clinicians to detect biomolecular changes that occur in tissues of the cervix associated with dysplastic transformation, precancerous changes, in other words.

Cervical cancer is the second most common form of malignant cancer across the globe and the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Current screening techniques have inherent false positives and negatives, but analysis at the molecular level could improve clinical discrimination significantly.

_{Image: © PhotoDisc, Inc.}

• In vivo diagnosis of cervical precancer using Raman spectroscopy and genetic algorithm techniques Shiyamala Duraipandian
  W. Zheng, J. Ng, J. J. H. Low, A. Ilancheran, Z. Huang,
  Analyst 2011.
  DOI: 10.1039/C1AN15296C