Changes of infrared spectrum associated to phosphodiester groups of nucleic acid in exfoliated cervical cells before and after radiation therapy of carcinoma of cervix
Abstract:
FT-IR spectroscopy is a technique for probing molecular structure of organic compounds. It can discriminate functional groups by displaying peaks at wavenumber directly related to chemical structure. In this descriptive study, changes of infrared spectrum associated to phosphodiester groups of nucleic acid in exfoliated cervical cells after radiation therapy of carcinoma of cervix for 2 months were compared with exfoliated cervical cells before radiation therapy and with normal cervical cells. The samples were taken from 30 patients in National Cancer Institute during November 2000 to October 2001. Their differences were evaluated by Pair t-test. The results, indicate no differentiated between infrared spectrum associated to phosphodiester groups of nucleic acid in cervical cell before and after radiation therapy: However, the differences were statistically insignificant (p = 0.075). Moreover, the wavenumber of phosphodiester groups of nucleic acid was found at 1080 cm-1 in all normal cervical cell contrasting a range of wavenumber that both before and after radiation samples were found shifted to a lower or higher wavenumber (between 1078-1084 cm-1) in cervical cell before and after radiation therapy. In conclusion, infrared spectrum associated to phosphodiester group of nucleic acid could not differentiate in cervical cell before and after radiation. The potential practical application of FT-IR spectroscopy in cervical cell after radiation therapy must be further evaluated