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Beyond the oncogene paradigm: understanding complexity in cancerogenesis
M Bizzarri1, A Cucina, F Conti
1Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, via Scarpa 14, Rome, 00161, Italy. mariano.bizzarri@uniroma1.it
Acta Biotheoretica
|February 22, 2008
Summary
Cancer is a complex system biology disease. Systems biology and metabolomics integrate molecular data to understand cancer, linking genotype to phenotype for new drug development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Systems Biology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Cancer research has accumulated vast molecular and genetic data, primarily using a reductionist approach.
- Cancer is increasingly recognized as a complex 'system biology disease' requiring a holistic understanding beyond isolated parts.
- The current oncologic paradigm needs transformation to address cancer's complexity through biological networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the need for a paradigm shift in oncology towards systems biology.
- To emphasize the role of systems biology in integrating complex biological data.
- To explore metabolomics as a tool linking genotype to phenotype for understanding cancer.
Main Methods:
- Connecting unsupervised multivariate experimental data with mathematical and computational approaches.
- Simulating biological systems for hypothesis testing using computational models.
- Utilizing metabolomics to bridge the gap between genotype and phenotype.
Main Results:
- Systems biology offers a framework to manage the complexity of cancer data.
- Understanding complex biological functions requires considering extra-genomic influences.
- Metabolomics provides integrated insights into pathogenic mechanisms and metabolic phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- A transformation towards systems biology is essential for advancing cancer research.
- Metabolomics can link genotype to phenotype, aiding in understanding disease mechanisms.
- Metabolomics serves as a screening tool for novel targeted cancer therapies.
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Such genes that act...
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