Simulation of Swanson's literature-based discovery: anandamide treatment inhibits growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in silico

Weiwei Dong; Yixuan Liu; Weijie Zhu; Quan Mou; Jinliang Wang; Yi Hu

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0100436

Simulation of Swanson's literature-based discovery: anandamide treatment inhibits growth of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in silico

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 20;9(6):e100436. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100436. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Weiwei Dong¹, Yixuan Liu², Weijie Zhu³, Quan Mou⁴, Jinliang Wang¹, Yi Hu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, China.
² Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
³ Beijing Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Preventive Medical Research, Beijing, China.
⁴ Department of Surgery, PLA 252 Hospital, Baoding, China.

Abstract

Swanson's literature-based discovery focus on resurrecting previously published but neglected knowledge. In this study, we propose a two-step model of the discovery process and generate a hypothesis between anandamide and gastric cancer. Further, the potential relationship was confirmed by follow-up experimentation. The anandamide treatment resulted in cell cycle redistribution of gastric cancer cells. Most importantly, the variation of cell cycle was mediated by some genes from the B-terms of the closed discovery, indicating the potential role of the B-terms. Swanson's literature-based discovery not only collates data for possible interactions, but also provides the potential to observe the larger background behind these direct links and is an invaluable discovery tool for investigators.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology*
Cell Cycle / drug effects
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation / drug effects
Computer Simulation*
Endocannabinoids / pharmacology*
Humans
Knowledge Discovery / methods*
MEDLINE
Medical Subject Headings
Polyunsaturated Alkamides / pharmacology*
Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
Stomach Neoplasms / psychology

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Arachidonic Acids
Endocannabinoids
Polyunsaturated Alkamides
anandamide

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Chinese Geriatric Oncology Society (oncology program, grants CGOS-03-2013-1-1-00600). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.