Submit Compounds for NCI-60 Evaluation

Current Production Versions of COMPARE

Access to all publicly available NCI-60 data on the PUBLIC COMPARE web site.

Suppliers and DTP personnel can access (additional data on) the PRIVATE COMPARE web site.
 

User Account Setup

Investigators interested in submitting compounds for NCI-60 evaluation are required to complete a one-time account setup through the DTP Compound Submission Application prior to screening request. During account setup, investigators will create a User ID and Password then receive a Supplier Code. Information required for account setup is outlined below:

•    Name
•    Institution
•    Address
•    E-mail address

After creating an account, use the DTP Compound Submission Application to do the following:

•    Submit requests
•    Process confidentiality disclosures and material transfer agreements
•    View packing/shipping details
•    Check status of their submissions
•    Access results

For questions about account setup, contact Keania Colbert (keania.colbert@nih.gov).
 

Compound Submission

** NCI is not currently accepting compound submissions for the NCI60 screen that originate from outside the United States and U.S. Territories. Updates to this policy will appear on this website. **

Initiate a Screening Request

Select "Submit Compounds" in the DTP Compound Submission Application and provide the following:

•    Chemical Structure (must be submitted for each compound using either the embedded chemical drawing program or added as a mol file)
•    Stereochemistry
•    Molecular Weight
•    Physical State
•    Institutional Signatory Authority Name
•    Institutional Signatory Authority E-mail Address

Steps and Information following Submission 

•    The request routes to the submitter’s designated signatory authority, who must agree to an online standard, non-negotiable, Confidentiality Disclosure/Material Transfer Agreement (CDA/MTA). 
•    The request routes to DTP staff for review upon agreement to the CDA/MTA. If the CDA/MTA is not executed by the submitter's institutional authority within 30 days, the request will expire and must be resubmitted. 
•    If compounds are of particular interest based on a biological hypothesis or data, or similar chemical analogs, a brief explanation from the submitter may strengthen the case for selection. 
•    After the DTP review process is complete, the submitter receives a decision e-mail, and if selected, instructions for mailing the physical sample(s) to the NCI Repository. Send samples only when instructed. The sample size requirement is 10-15 mg, but for relatively inaccessible natural products, 5 mg is acceptable.
•    The NCI Repository assigns an identifying NSC number, inventories, and places the received compounds into the NCI-60 screening queue. All subsequent communications regarding a compound should include its NSC number.
•    Any unused sample will be subject to the terms of the CDA/MTA.
•    There is a limit of 10 structure submission requests per 30-day period.
•    NCI may prioritize selected agents for further evaluation in collaboration with the submitter.

Send questions regarding the request procedure to Keania Colbert (keania.colbert@nih.gov).

Compound Selection Guidelines

Structures are generally selected for screening based on their ability to add diversity to the NCI small molecule compound collection. Read the full compound selection guidelines. 

Costs

NCI offers the screening service at no cost to submitters, other than shipping costs; however, NCI will select for screening only those requests conforming to defined guidelines.  

Data Retrieval and Testing Decisions

Submitters will receive an e-mail alert to log into the DTP Compound Submission Application when a testing decision or testing data is added to their account. A link to the results is posted to the "Action Items" section.

Testing Decisions include:
•    No further testing
•    Selected for 5-dose testing
•    Re-test in NCI-60
 

HTS384 Screening Methodology

The modernized HTS384 NCI-60 screen comprises an automated high-throughput assay system conducted in 384-well plates that requires fewer cells per well and a longer exposure time compared to NCI’s previous methodology.  This modernization is consistent with an assay readout that most investigators use and will improve operational efficiency.

Read a complete description of the screening methodology.

Requirement to Recognize NCI’s Contribution in Publications

To recognize NCI's contribution, investigators shall add the following statement to the acknowledgement section of their publication:

"The PI wishes to thank the National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Program (NCI/DTP) https://cancer.gov/programs/dtp for providing screening data of compounds present in this (poster, manuscript, presentation, etc.). Specifically, NSC #: X, Y, Z , etc."

Standard Operation Procedures and List of the NCI-60 Cell Lines

View the SOPs for the HTS384 NCI-60 Screen and a list of the cells lines included in the screen.  

FAQ

We provide answers to commonly asked questions about submitting compounds to the NCI-60.