Submit Compounds for NCI-60 Evaluation

The NCI-60 HTS384 Cell Line Screen accepts novel small molecules and natural products from academic, government, and industry investigators for evaluation of anti-cancer activity. The screening is conducted free of charge for eligible applicants, with results returned in a few weeks.

** The National Cancer Institute is not currently accepting compound submissions for the NCI-60 screen that originate from outside the United States and U.S. Territories. Updates to this policy will appear on this website. **

Submission Overview

To submit a compound, follow these key steps:

Set up a user account in the DTP Compound Submission Application.
Prepare your compound data (structure, physical form, etc.).
Submit your compound through the portal.
Complete the confidentiality agreement (CDA/MTA).
Ship your compound when instructed.
Receive screening results, including one-dose and, if selected, five-dose data.

Create an Account

Before submitting compounds, you must set up an account:

Go to the DTP Compound Submission Application
Provide:
- Name
- Institution
- Address
- Email
Upon approval, you’ll receive a User ID and Supplier Code

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

Submit your Compound

Chemical structure (drawn or .mol file)
Stereochemistry
Molecular weight
Physical state
Institutional Signatory details (Name and Email address)

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.

Once submitted:

The system routes your request to your institutional signatory for agreement to the non-negotiable CDA/MTA
After agreement, DTP staff reviews the submission
You’ll receive a decision by email

Unaccepted submissions may be revised and resubmitted.

Send Compound Sample (Upon Request)

If selected, you’ll receive detailed instructions for shipment. Do not send any samples until instructed.

Sample amount: 10–15 mg preferred (minimum 5 mg for rare compounds)
Compounds are assigned a unique NSC number for tracking
Unused material remains subject to the CDA/MTA

Submissions are limited to 10 compounds per 30-day period.

Compound Selection Guidelines

The NCI prioritizes:

Structurally diverse molecules
Drug-like physicochemical properties
Novel heterocycles or privileged scaffolds
Mechanistically interesting analogs

Compounds generally not accepted include:

Pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS)
Unstable, reactive, or high-MW PEGylated agents
Structural mixtures or nanoparticles

See NCI's Full Selection Guidelines.

Costs

There is no fee for screening. Submitters are only responsible for shipping costs of accepted samples.

Accessing your Results

You will be notified via email when:

A testing decision is made
Screening data becomes available

Screening status
Downloadable results
Historical data for your NSC compound(s)

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.