In silico logical modelling to uncover cooperative interactions in cancer

The multistep development of cancer involves the cooperation between multiple molecular lesions, as well as complex interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding tumour microenvironment. The search for these synergistic interactions using experimental models made tremendous contributions to our understanding of oncogenesis. Yet, these approaches remain labour intensive and challenging. To tackle such a hurdle, an integrative, multidisciplinary effort is required. In this article, we highlight the use of logical computational models combined to experimental validations as an effective approach to identify cooperative mechanisms and therapeutic strategies in the context of cancer biology. In silico models overcome limitations of reductionist approaches by capturing tumour complexity, and by generating powerful testable hypotheses. We review representative examples of logical models reported in the literature and their validation. We then provide further analyses of our logical model of Epithelium to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), searching for additional cooperative interactions involving inputs from the tumour microenvironment and gain of function mutations in NOTCH.