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Researchers Use Google's Search Algorithms To Fight Cancer

Posted by samzenpus on from the searching-for-a-cure dept.

MatthewVD writes "German scientists have modified Google's PageRank algorithm to scan tumors and learn more about how cancers progress. PageRank orders results based on how other web pages are connected to them via hyperlinks; the modified algorithm, NetRank, scans how genes and proteins in a cell are similarly connected through a network of interactions with their neighbors. This approach could also yield new therapies to help combat tumors."

3 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Oh Geez by Theophany · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your tumor's linked to you thyroid, your thyroid's linked to your larynx, Google's gonna steal all your data...

    Serious question: will their be an AdSense-style scheme for recurring cancer-sufferers to accrue referral income?

  2. All fucking journos must fucking die by Rogerborg · · Score: 4, Insightful
    • Researchers: "[NetRank operates] in a manner similar to Google's PageRank"
    • Retard masquerading as a professional journalist: "Researchers modified PageRank to develop NetRank"

    Die. Just die in a fire. Die, die, die.

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  3. Interesting idea, flawed paper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The idea is interesting but the paper seems flawed. They integrate data and then look at how genes are positioned in the network with page-rank. The problem is that genes positioning in the network is highly dependent on how studied they are. Therefore, very well studied will get a high "NetRank." Genes known to be predictive of cancer progression are very well studied (lots of fudning in that area). This means the algorithm is basically finding and returning a list of what we already know, and it turns out that what we know is reasonably predictive when you combine 400+ markers.

    I'm surprised this made it by peer review without additional experiments to assess the role that this bias plays.