Definition of systems biology
The definition of Systems Biology is still a matter of debate1 . But roughly systems biology can be defined as an emerging multidisciplinary trend trying to elucidate how living organisms function as a whole by using hightrougput biological data combined with modeling and simulation. In the Biomedical field such approaches could potentially lead to discover more effective new drug targets with fewer side effects for complex diseases such as Cancer.
The disciplines involved in this gigantic and complex challenge includes biologist, mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists and physicians.
Systems Biology and Cancer
Cancer is a disease that not only involves the cancer cell, but also the microenvironment surrounding the malignant cells. This “non-malignant neighbors” include cells like fibroblasts, macrophages, lymphocytes, endotothelial cells, and the extracellular matrix. The cells composing this microenvironment interact in a paracrine and autocrine fashion creating complex communication networks2. Moreover the molecular pathways deregulated inside the cancer cell, are no longer considered linear “pathways” but instead interacting modules that create networks. With this in mind it is unlikely that a reductionistic approach will give appropriate answers to the cancer problem; in contrast a more promising approach is to realize the systemic nature of cancer and to build suitable methods for modeling and simulating the networks created by the cancer cells and its surrounding microenvironment.
References:
1. Kirschner MW. The meaning of systems biology. Cell. 2005 May 20;121(4):503-4
2. Klausner RD. The fabric of cancer cell biology-Weaving together the strands. Cancer Cell 2002;1(1):3-10. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=12086880.