MoAGL-SA: a multi-omics adaptive integration method with graph learning and self attention for cancer subtype classification

BMC Bioinformatics. 2024 Nov 23;25(1):364. doi: 10.1186/s12859-024-05989-y.

Abstract

Background: The integration of multi-omics data through deep learning has greatly improved cancer subtype classification, particularly in feature learning and multi-omics data integration. However, key challenges remain in embedding sample structure information into the feature space and designing flexible integration strategies.

Results: We propose MoAGL-SA, an adaptive multi-omics integration method based on graph learning and self-attention, to address these challenges. First, patient relationship graphs are generated from each omics dataset using graph learning. Next, three-layer graph convolutional networks are employed to extract omic-specific graph embeddings. Self-attention is then used to focus on the most relevant omics, adaptively assigning weights to different graph embeddings for multi-omics integration. Finally, cancer subtypes are classified using a softmax classifier.

Conclusions: Experimental results show that MoAGL-SA outperforms several popular algorithms on datasets for breast invasive carcinoma, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma, and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. Additionally, MoAGL-SA successfully identifies key biomarkers for breast invasive carcinoma.

Keywords: Adaptive multi-omics integration; Cancer subtype classification; Graph convolution network; Graph learning; Self-attention.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / classification
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / classification
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Deep Learning
  • Genomics / methods
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / classification
  • Kidney Neoplasms / genetics
  • Multiomics
  • Neoplasms* / classification
  • Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor