Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a promising technique in the field of cancer research, but its use is currently limited by issues such as raw data pre-processing, image accuracy and image recognition capabilities. Imperial College recently issued a press release stating that researchers at the university have developed a new method that could effectively address these issues. The new method will change the way diseased tissues are detected, thus pushing cancer tissue analysis into the digital age. The research results are published in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mass spectrometry is a technique that uses mass spectrometry to directly scan biological samples to analyze the structural, spatial and temporal distribution of chemical components in cells or tissues. This imaging method is not limited to one or a few protein molecules in particular, but can find every protein molecule in a biological tissue sample and provide precise information about their spatial distribution in the tissue. The idea of using this technique to identify biological tissue types was proposed by scientists several years ago, but no practical and effective method has been devised. The new method uses desorption electrospray ionization to optimize data pre-processing, improve image accuracy, and enhance image identification by extracting molecular imprints specific to biological tissues to enhance the biochemical properties of different biological tissue types. According to the researchers, the newly developed integrated biological information platform can be used to construct various types of tissue databases from the large amount of human tissue-specific information data obtained by mass spectrometry imaging. By analyzing multiple samples and comparing the results with traditional histological analysis, the computer can then learn to recognize different types of tissues, making the resolution of cancerous tissues relatively simple and efficient. They have used the workflow they designed for the detection of rectal colon cancer tissue with good results. Compared to standard histology, which can take weeks to produce complete results, a single test using mass spectrometry imaging can yield more detailed information in just a few hours, showing not only whether the tissue is cancerous but also which type and subtype of cancer it is. This information is important for doctors to choose the most effective treatment. The researchers note that the method of analyzing histopathology samples has changed little since the late 19th century when staining techniques were used to show tissue structure. To this day, staining remains the dominant means of histological analysis in hospitals and has become increasingly complex and costly. Mass spectrometry imaging, on the other hand, may change the basic paradigm of histology in that scientists will no longer define tissue types based on their structure, but on their chemical composition. Instead of relying on expert eyes, future tests will be based on massive amounts of data, with just one test yielding far more information than multiple traditional histology tests. The new study overcomes some of the obstacles encountered in the practical application of mass spectrometry imaging technology and will be the first step toward creating the next generation of fully automated means of histological analysis, they said.