Raman spectroscopy (RS) techniques are attracting attention in the medical field as a promising tool for real-time biochemical analyses. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms with RS has greatly enhanced its ability to accurately classify spectral data in vivo. This combination has opened up new possibilities for precise and efficient analysis in medical applications. In this study, healthy and cancerous specimens from 22 patients who underwent open colorectal surgery were collected. By using these spectral data, we investigate an optimal preprocessing pipeline for statistical analysis using AI techniques. This exploration entails proposing preprocessing methods and algorithms to enhance classification outcomes. The research encompasses a thorough ablation study comparing machine learning and deep learning algorithms toward the advancement of the clinical applicability of RS. The results indicate substantial accuracy improvements using techniques like baseline correction, L2 normalization, filtering, and PCA, yielding an overall accuracy enhancement of 15.8%. In comparing various algorithms, machine learning models, such as XGBoost and Random Forest, demonstrate effectiveness in classifying both normal and abnormal tissues. Similarly, deep learning models, such as 1D-Resnet and particularly the 1D-CNN model, exhibit superior performance in classifying abnormal cases. This research contributes valuable insights into the integration of AI in medical diagnostics and expands the potential of RS methods for achieving accurate malignancy classification.
Keywords: Raman spectroscopy; colorectal cancer; deep learning; machine learning; tissue discrimination.