Patent ID: 7805183

Claim:
A method for evaluating a test tissue sample for the diagnosis of cancer, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing the test tissue sample from a test subject, wherein said test tissue sample comprises a stromal collagen component; b) generating a test image or test imaging data from the test tissue sample using a nonlinear optical imaging technique; and c) analyzing said test image or test imaging data of the test tissue sample by observing the stromal collagen for detection of at least one tumor-associated collagen signature, thereby evaluating said test tissue sample for the diagnosis of cancer; wherein said tumor-associated collagen signature is selected from the group consisting of: i. a first tumor-associated collagen signature, wherein there is an increased collagen density, localization or deposition level in the test tissue sample relative to a first reference level; ii. a second tumor-associated collagen signature, wherein there is an increased level of taut collagen fibers in the test tissue sample relative to a second reference level; and iii. a third tumor-associated collagen signature, wherein there is a radial alignment pattern of collagen fibers in the test tissue sample relative to a third reference level.