Oncological drug discovery: AI meets structure-based computational research.

Journal: Drug discovery today
Published Date:

Abstract

The integration of machine learning and structure-based methods has proven valuable in the past as a way to prioritize targets and compounds in early drug discovery. In oncological research, these methods can be highly beneficial in addressing the diversity of neoplastic diseases portrayed by the different hallmarks of cancer. Here, we review six use case scenarios for integrated computational methods, namely driver prediction, computational mutagenesis, (off)-target prediction, binding site prediction, virtual screening, and allosteric modulation analysis. We address the heterogeneity of integration approaches and individual methods, while acknowledging their current limitations and highlighting their potential to bring drugs for personalized oncological therapies to the market faster.

Authors

  • Marina Gorostiola González
    Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • Antonius P A Janssen
    Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Molecular Physiology, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
  • Adriaan P IJzerman
    Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
  • Laura H Heitman
    Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • Gerard J P van Westen
    Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, the Netherlands. Electronic address: gerard@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl.