Publications and Presentations
Researchers at the Northwestern University Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence are studying the ways in which cancer cells migrate from existing tumors to create new, metastatic tumors in different regions of the body. By creating micrometer scaled adhesive islands on gold surfaces, they have allowed individual metastatic cells to take on shapes, such as the star depicted above. These shapes provide cues to cancer cells, which respond in the above image by concentrating their motility machinery at the star’s tips. This assay lends itself to large scale screening of cell populations—a problem that has stymied past efforts to find a drug that targets metastatic motility.
The programs funded through the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer have made significant progress in advancing cancer nanotechnology research. The NSDB routinely publishes reports, strategic peer-reviewed manuscripts, and subject matter expertise papers relative to our myriad of interdisciplinary backgrounds. These papers are listed below.
How organ-on-a-chip is advancing cancer research and oncology - a cancer hallmarks’ perspective
November 2024
In this review article, we discuss the recent advances in Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology in cancer biology studies from a cancer hallmarks’ perspective. We also discuss current prospects and funding opportunities in this space, as well as a possible future outlook from a biology perspective.
Older adults with cancer and common comorbidities—challenges and opportunities in improving their cancer treatment outcomes
July 2024
National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging, hosted a webinar series titled "Cancer, Aging, and Comorbidities". This commentary highlights the key themes from the series, aiming to improve cancer treatment for older adults with cancer and comorbidities.
Unraveling links between chronic inflammation and long COVID: Current State, Challenges, and Opportunities Workshop
February 2024
This workshop meeting report discusses current research brought together by multidisciplinary experts on the importance of considering the role of chronic inflammation in long COVID that might be associated with the persistent sequelae following COVID-19 infection.
Current landscape of treating different cancers using nanomedicines: Trends and perspectives
September 2023
In this review, a comprehensive survey of nanomedicine developmental and clinical research was conducted in conjunction with the treatment of various cancers. The findings reveal that breast cancer has received considerable attention from nanotechnology researchers, whereas brain cancer stands out as one of the less explored areas. Furthermore, an analysis is presented to elucidate the factors that potentially drive the selection of these specific cancer targets in emerging nanomedicine treatments within both preclinical and clinical research.
Nanotechnology Tools Enabling Biological Discovery
April 2022
This review highlights the strengths of nanotechnology as a cancer-related biological discovery tool, thus producing a paradigm shift in cancer research and oncology.
Nanotechnology-aided advancement in the combating of cancer metastasis
April 2022
This review discusses improvements that nanotechnology-aided approaches are able to bring towards the identification and treatment of metastatic disease, in order to open up new avenues for fine-tuned targeting and development of anti-metastatic agents designed specifically to prevent or mitigate the metastatic outgrowth of cancer.
Merging data curation and machine learning to improve nanomedicines
April 2022
Nanotechnology for Cancer Imaging: Advances, Challenges, and Clinical Opportunities
May 2021
This paper published in the journal Radiology: Imaging Cancer highlights some promising NP-enabled imaging techniques and their potential to address current clinical cancer imaging limitations.
Nanomaterials innovation as an enabler for effective cancer interventions
February 2020
This paper published in the journal Biomaterials discusses how by modulating nanomaterial properties, one can design more diverse and more effective cancer interventions, and focuses on six areas in cancer management, including in vitro diagnostics, clinical imaging, theranostics, combination therapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy.
Integrating Nanotechnology into Cancer Care
July 2019
NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer - From Academic Research to Clinical Interventions
March 2019
This paper published in the journal Biomedical Microdevices takes a look at last thirteen years of the Alliance program operations and delineates its outcomes, successes, and outlook for the future.
Nanotechnology Strategies to Advance Outcomes in Clinical Cancer Care
January 2018
A review paper focusing upon emerging areas in cancer nanotechnology in the journal ACS Nano. The paper presents several evolving areas in cancer nanotechnology in order to identify key clinical and biological challenges that need to be addressed to improve patient outcomes. A strategic emphasis on future goals and guidance to the field are highlighted as well.
Big Potential from Small Agents: Nanoparticles for Imaging-Based Companion Diagnostics
January 2018
Nanoparticles are uniquely suited for advancing existing imaging tools, not only as imaging contrast agents but also as companion diagnostics. This review published in the journal ACS Nano provides an overview of many ways nanoparticle imaging agents have contributed to cancer imaging, both preclinically and in the clinic, as well as charting future directions in companion diagnostics.
Biomarkers of chronic inflammation in disease development and prevention: challenges and opportunities
November 2017
A paper published in Nature Immunology that provides a collective view of recent advances in chronic inflammation and cancer as well as a synopsis of a recent NCI strategic workshop on the subject.
NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer: Phase II Program Summary 2010-2015
January 2016
The NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer published its 2010-2015 Phase II Program Summary summarizing the accomplishments of the program over the past 5-year funding period. The summary outlines the various ways the Alliance reached the wider scientific community, advanced cancer research, and advanced translation efforts for the cancer nanotechnology field.
Cell-to-cell communication in cancer: workshop report
December 2015
A paper published in Nature Breast Cancer that provides a collective view of recent advances in cancer biology and the development of new research tools have enabled interrogations of single cells and cell-cell interactions.
Cancer nanomedicines: closing the translational gap
December 2014
A paper published in The Lancet that provides a collective view of the translational state of nanomedicines for cancer.
NCI Investment in Nanotechnology: Achievements and Challenges for the Future
November 2014
A paper published in WIRE's Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology that provides an overview of NCIs investment in nanotechnology training and research, including a review of various nanotechnology programs supported by the NIH and NCI. This paper also discusses plans for future work with the nanotechnology community in the pursuit of innovative nanotechnology-based solutions to cancer.
Future Opportunities in Cancer Nanotechnology—NCI Strategic Workshop Report
March 1, 2014
The National Cancer Institute, which currently supports an array of research activities in cancer nanotechnology, convened a strategic workshop to explore the most promising directions and areas for future resource investment. The major discussion points, as well as the opportunities identified, were published in the journal Cancer Research.
Summary of Responses to the Request for Information
March 2014
The National Cancer Institute Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research published a summary of the responses to a request for information on the Directions and Needs for Cancer Nanotechnology Research and Development. The RFI sought to gain feedback, comments and ideas on the status and future of the field and the role NCI funding has played and should continue to play in the future.
NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer Annual Bulletin
2013
The NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer published its 2013 issue of the annual bulletin summarizing the accomplishments of the program over the past year. The bulletin outlines the various ways the Alliance reaches the wider scientific community, as demonstrated by numerous news stories, perspective articles, and solicitations for community input, all focused on advancing the cancer nanotechnology field.
Biotargeted Nanomedicines for Cancer: Six Tenets Before You Begin Published in Nanomedicine
January 2013
A paper published in the journal Nanomedicine, provides a brief summary of the most important nano-based tumor targeting systems and strategies, and discusses recent advances and future directions in the development of tumour-targeted nanomedicines.
Best Practices in Cancer Nanotechnology: Perspective from NCI Nanotechnology Alliance Published in Clinical Cancer Research
June 2012
The NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research published a paper in Clinical Cancer Research that discusses the future prospects of using nanotechnology in cancer applications and practices and methodologies used in the development and translation of nanotechnology-based therapeutics.
Kindling Translational Cancer Nanotechnology Research Published in Nanomedicine
March 2012
A paper published in the journal Nanomedicine, provides an overview of the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer and features the Alliance's programs which are dedicated to supporting cancer nanomedicine research.
Nanotechnology-based Cancer Therapeutics—Promise and Challenge—Lessons Learned through the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer Published in Pharmaceutical Research
February 2011
The NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research published a paper in Pharmaceutical Research that summarizes current developments in nanotechnology-based drug delivery and discusses the path forward in the context of research and development occurring within the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer.
Commentary on Nanomedicine in Cancer Therapy Published in IEEE Nanotechnology
June 2011
The NCI Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research published a paper in IEEE Nanotechnology, highlighting interesting research conducted by the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer investigators aimed at improving cancer diagnoses and treatment.
Alliance Achievements and Path Forward Published in WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology
June 8, 2010
A paper published in the journal WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology highlights Alliance achievements in demonstrating that multidisciplinary research catalyzes scientific developments and advances clinical translation in cancer nanotechnology. The paper also discusses goals for the next phase of the program.
Highlights from Alliance Workshops on Cancer Nanotechnology Published in Cancer Research
May 11, 2010
The Alliance conducted three strategic workshops focused on the use of nanotechnology in the areas of in vitro diagnostics and prevention, therapy and post-treatment, and in vivo diagnosis and imaging. Highlights from these workshops were published in the journal Cancer Research.
Highlights from 2009 Alliance PI Meeting Published in ACS Nano
February 23, 2010
Alliance research in the areas of in vitro diagnostics, targeted delivery of anticancer and contrast enhancement agents, and nanotherapeutics that was presented at the 2009 Principal Investigators’ Meeting in Manhattan Beach, CA, were published in ACS Nano.
Meeting Report from First Joint China-U.S. Symposium on Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Published in Cancer Research
July 1, 2009
The first Joint China-U.S. Symposium on Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine was convened in October 2008, in Beijing, China. Participants shared experiences and exchanged information pertaining to the development of nanotechnology for medical use including the prevention, detection, and treatment of disease, and ensuring the safety of the general public and of personnel working in the field. The symposium also provided a platform for exploring the development of new research collaborations among top Chinese and American scientists.
Alliance Commentary on the Use of Nanotechnology to Improve Cancer Diagnosis Published in Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics
May 1, 2006
A paper published in Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics discusses why nanotechnology is in a unique position to transform cancer diagnostics and to produce a new generation of biosensors and medical imaging techniques with higher sensitivity and precision of recognition. In vitro and in vivo diagnostic applications of nanoparticles and other nanodevices are also discussed.