Computer program helps decode cancer

Researchers at the University of Newcastle, Australia have developed a computer program that implements a novel algorithm, which will aid in the identification of specific cancer causing genes.

Dr Pablo Moscato from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, and Director of the Newcastle Bioinformatics Initiative, who led the team that developed the new algorithm, says that it is capable of "rapidly extracting hidden information from an otherwise uninformative jumble of biological data."

"Humans have over 20,000 genes. Understanding their role in health and disease requires analysis of how the genes behave under different circumstances."

"It is now possible to map the genes that are active in different parts of the body at different times or during development, and to determine how diseases, drugs or toxic chemicals can alter the pattern of gene behaviour."

"The algorithm identifies specific genes and then groups together those with similar patterns of activity. The patterns of activity provide a molecular fingerprint which could potentially be used to identify specific cancer genes."

"By using these techniques to identify gene profiles, biologists will have new mathematical methods to understand their roles and identify ways to control these genes. New methods are needed as a deluge of data is expected from new biotechnologies in the 21st century."

"Analysis of individual variations in genetic profile could lead to personalised medicine, where treatments for diseases or strategies for health promotion can be specifically tailored to the genetic makeup of the individual," says Dr Moscato.

The Newcastle Bioinformatics Initiative is multidisciplinary research group combining expertise from the Faculties of Health, Engineering and Built Environment and Science and Information Technologies at the University of Newcastle.