Computer Program Analyzes Key Cancer Metabolites

They used CoMet to analyze Jurkat T leukemia cells, and the results were published in the June 17, 2008, online edition of the journal Molecular Cancer.

All nine metabolites predicted to be lowered in Jurkat cells with respect to normal lymphoblasts (riboflavin, tryptamine, 3-sulfino-L-alanine, menaquinone, dehydroepiandrosterone, alpha-hydroxystearic acid, hydroxyacetone, seleno-L-methionine and 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole), exhibited antiproliferative activity that has not been reported before, while only two (bilirubin and androsterone) of the eleven tested metabolites predicted to be increased or unchanged in Jurkat cells displayed significant antiproliferative activity.

"By comparing the gene expression levels of cancer cells relative to normal cells and converting that information into the enzymes that produce metabolites, CoMet predicts metabolites that have lower concentrations in cancer relative to normal cells. This opens up the possibility of novel therapeutics for cancer and develops our understanding of why such metabolites work. CoMet provides a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer,” said senior author Dr. Jeffery Skolnick, professor of biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology.


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