Advances in optical methods for genetic analysis of cancer and infectious diseases

I review optical instrumentation for the diagnosis of cancer. In this field of medicine, molecular methods are used to study the evolution or pathogenesis of disease by comparing the molecular make-up of normal tissue to diseased tissue, measured over the course of the disease. The ultimate goal is to use minimally invasive screening methods and biopsies to accurately diagnose the patient´s disease, and to define therapies tailored to the specific stage and type of that disease. The scientific and technical challenges that must be overcome for the full implementation of these diagnostic procedures are discussed