A joint success: Researchers in Jena develop the first clinical workflow for Raman spectroscopy in tumor surgery.

The precise delineation of tumor tissue during surgery is one of the greatest challenges in cancer surgery. In a study now published in Nature Scientific Reports, researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz IPHT), Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, and Jena University Hospital demonstrate a decisive advance: Together, they established a clinically viable workflow for the use of Raman spectroscopy directly in the operating room.

The method enables tissue to be examined optically in vivo during head and neck tumor surgery, thus allowing tumor margins to be detected more reliably. In the future, Raman spectroscopy will be able to support intraoperative decision-making and increase the chances of complete tumor removal. The publication is based on a clinical study approach (DRKS00028114) that is currently comparing the accuracy of Raman-based diagnostics with standard histopathology. Patient recruitment has been completed and the evaluation is underway – the professional community can look forward to the results with excitement.

We are particularly pleased that our working group was also involved. Ines Latka, Florian Windirsch, and Iwan W. Schie contributed greatly to the success of the publication. We would like to thank all our partners for their close cooperation and are delighted to be part of this important step toward patient-centered diagnostics.

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• Journal: Scientific Reports