Assessing Breast Cancer through Tumor Microenvironment Mapping of Collagen and Other Biomolecule Spectral Fingerprints─A Review

Breast cancer is a major challenge in the field of oncology, with around 2.3 million cases and around 670,000 deaths globally based on the GLOBOCAN 2022 data. Despite having advanced technologies, breast cancer remains the major type of cancer among women. This review highlights various collagen signatures and the role of different collagen types in breast tumor development, progression, and metastasis, along with the use of photoacoustic spectroscopy to offer insights into future cancer diagnostic applications without the need for surgery or other invasive techniques. Through mapping of the tumor microenvironment and spotlighting key components and their absorption wavelengths, we emphasize the need for extensive preclinical and clinical investigations.