Deep-Representation-Learning-Based Classification Strategy for Anticancer Peptides

Cancer, with its complexity and numerous origins, continues to provide a huge challenge in medical research. Anticancer peptides are a potential treatment option, but identifying and synthesizing them on a large scale requires accurate prediction algorithms. This study presents an intuitive classification strategy, named ACP-LSE, based on representation learning, specifically, a deep latent-space encoding scheme. ACP-LSE can demonstrate notable advancements in classification outcomes, particularly in scenarios with limited sample sizes and abundant features. ACP-LSE differs from typical black-box approaches by focusing on representation learning. Utilizing an auto-encoder-inspired network, it embeds high-dimensional features, such as the composition of g-spaced amino acid pairs, into a compressed latent space. In contrast to conventional auto-encoders, ACP-LSE ensures that the learned feature set is both small and effective for classification, giving a transparent alternative. The suggested approach is tested on benchmark datasets and demonstrates higher performance compared to the current methods. The results indicate improved Matthew’s correlation coefficient and balanced accuracy, offering insights into crucial aspects for developing new ACPs. The implementation of the proposed ACP-LSE approach is accessible online, providing a valuable and reproducible resource for researchers in the field.