caBIG^® and the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer

Few technologies in recent years have generated as much excitement or investment as nanotechnology, the development and engineering of devices so small that they are measured on a molecular scale. Nanotechnology, due to its multi-functional capabilities, offers the potential to fuel an entire pipeline of new diagnostics, therapeutics, and imaging techniques.

To catalyze such product development, the NCI launched the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer (http://nano.cancer.gov) in 2004, a comprehensive, systematized initiative encompassing the public and private sectors, and designed to accelerate the application of the best capabilities of nanotechnology to cancer research.

The goals of the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer are to develop:

• Research tools to identify new biological targets
• Agents to monitor predictive molecular changes and prevent precancerous cells from becoming malignant
• Imaging agents and diagnostics to detect cancer in the earliest, most easily treatable, pre-symptomatic stage
• Multi-functional targeted devices to deliver multiple therapeutic agents directly to cancer cells
• Systems to provide real-time assessments of therapeutic and surgical efficacy
• Novel methods to manage symptoms that reduce quality of life

The Initiative has established eight Centers of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, 12 Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships, and the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), all of which will use caBIG^® compliant tools and best practices. For more information about the NCL, please visit http://ncl.cancer.gov/.

The NCL is serving as a national resource and knowledge base for all cancer researchers by characterizing the physical attributes, in vitro biological properties, and in vivo compatibility of nanoparticles–all vital information to facilitate new products through the regulatory process. The NCL is tasked with sharing its data with the academic and industrial communities, and to facilitate the dissemination of its findings in the public domain. As such, the NCL is relying heavily on caBIG^®.

There are two primary projects related to data management and communication with the nanotechnology cancer clinical and research communities using the caBIG^® framework and software tools. These projects include the development and testing of the Cancer Laboratory Analysis Bench (caLAB), and the development of both nanotechnology ontologies and an object model aid to integrate data and knowledge search, discovery, and sharing in cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment.

To keep the process of translational research moving as rapidly as possible, data sharing will be essential. For example, some conventional assays do not work properly with nanoparticles. As assay techniques that are nanoparticle-suitable are adapted or developed, access to them via caBIG^® in standardized formats will facilitate rapid adoption and improvement of the assays, and will enable the community to develop clinical applications more rapidly.

Data-sharing enabled by caBIG^® will be critical to the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, since nanoparticles behave differently from other devices, and a foundation of knowledge about their characteristics must be developed to support the development of clinical applications.

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