HyperFoods: Machine intelligent mapping of cancer-beating molecules in foods

Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 3;9(1):9237. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45349-y.

Abstract

Recent data indicate that up-to 30-40% of cancers can be prevented by dietary and lifestyle measures alone. Herein, we introduce a unique network-based machine learning platform to identify putative food-based cancer-beating molecules. These have been identified through their molecular biological network commonality with clinically approved anti-cancer therapies. A machine-learning algorithm of random walks on graphs (operating within the supercomputing DreamLab platform) was used to simulate drug actions on human interactome networks to obtain genome-wide activity profiles of 1962 approved drugs (199 of which were classified as "anti-cancer" with their primary indications). A supervised approach was employed to predict cancer-beating molecules using these 'learned' interactome activity profiles. The validated model performance predicted anti-cancer therapeutics with classification accuracy of 84-90%. A comprehensive database of 7962 bioactive molecules within foods was fed into the model, which predicted 110 cancer-beating molecules (defined by anti-cancer drug likeness threshold of >70%) with expected capacity comparable to clinically approved anti-cancer drugs from a variety of chemical classes including flavonoids, terpenoids, and polyphenols. This in turn was used to construct a 'food map' with anti-cancer potential of each ingredient defined by the number of cancer-beating molecules found therein. Our analysis underpins the design of next-generation cancer preventative and therapeutic nutrition strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Diet
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Food / classification
  • Food Analysis*
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents