Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have developed a fully automated computational metabolomics method (a computer-based method of analyzing metabolites, or small molecules made by cellular activity) to predict the anti-tumor activity of these molecules.

Metabolites can affect the expression of genes. The researchers’ method compares the gene expression levels of cancer cells and normal cells and predicts which metabolites would have lower concentrations in cancer cells relative to normal cells.

All of the metabolites suggested by the method exhibited anticancer properties when added to cancer cells.

BioMed Central News Release