View source for National Cancer Institute

{{other uses}}
{{Short description|U.S. health institute}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = National Cancer Institute (NCI)
| logo            = National Cancer Institute logo.svg
| logo_width      = 200
| jurisdiction    = [[Federal government of the United States]]
| headquarters    = Office of the Director,<br /> 31 Center Drive, Building 31, [[Bethesda, Maryland]],<br /> 20814
| formed          = {{start date and age|1937|8|5}}
| chief1_name     = [[Anthony Letai]]
| chief1_position = Director
| parent_department = [[United States Department of Health and Human Services]]
| parent_agency   = [[National Institutes of Health]]
| child1_agency   = NCI Shady Grove Campus
| child2_agency   = [[National Institutes of Health|NCI at NIH Bethesda Campus]]
| child3_agency   = [[Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research|NCI Frederick Campus]]
| website         = {{official URL}}
| footnotes       = <ref name="Lowy">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cancer.gov/director|title=Director's Page|publisher=National Cancer Institute|language=en-US|access-date=1 April 2015|archive-date=22 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222031612/http://www.cancer.gov/%2fdirector|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="sharpless_2018-12-18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/leadership/director|title=NCI Director Dr. Norman E. Sharpless—Director's Page—Leadership—About NCI|date=18 December 2018|publisher=National Cancer Institute|language=en-US|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-date=22 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222031612/http://www.cancer.gov//director|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SharplessBethesda">{{Cite web|url=https://ned.nih.gov/search/ViewDetails.aspx?NIHID=2002045786|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102193503/https://ned.nih.gov/search/ViewDetails.aspx?NIHID=2002045786|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2019|title=Dr Norman Edward Sharpless, MD, NIH Enterprise Directory (NED)|website=NED.NIH.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="3campuses">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/visit|title=Visitor Information |publisher=National Cancer Institute |language=en-US|access-date=2 January 2019|date=1980-01-01}}</ref><ref name="NIHrecord2010-04-02">{{Cite book|url=https://nihrecord.nih.gov/newsletters/2010/04_02_2010/story6.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221045023/http://nihrecord.nih.gov/newsletters/2010/04_02_2010/story6.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 21, 2014|date=2 April 2010|title=NCI's Shady Grove Campus To Open In 2013|work=NIH Record|volume=LXII|issue=7|language=en-US|quote=The change is being made primarily due to the leases expiring at EPN, EPS and a few other buildings on Executive Blvd. The new buildings would house, in one facility, staff from those leased sites... NCI will continue to occupy floors 10 and 11 of Bldg. 31’s A wing, as well as much of the 3rd floor, and the NCI director will remain in 31. There are also many staff members in lab buildings and the Clinical Center on campus and a large presence in Frederick at Ft. Detrick.|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref>
}}

The '''National Cancer Institute''' ('''NCI''') coordinates the United States National Cancer Program and is part of the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH), which is one of eleven agencies that are part of the [[U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]]. The NCI conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other activities related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of [[cancer]]; the supportive care of cancer patients and their families; and cancer survivorship.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aviles |first=Natalie B. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/avil19668 |title=An Ungovernable Foe: Science and Policy Innovation in the U.S. National Cancer Institute |date=2024 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-19668-0 |doi=10.7312/avil19668|jstor=10.7312/avil19668 }}</ref>

NCI is the oldest and has the largest budget and research program of the 27 [[List of institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health|institutes and centers of the NIH]] ($6.9 billion in 2020).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Philippidis|first=Alex|date=2020-09-21|title=Top 50 NIH-Funded Institutions of 2020|url=https://www.genengnews.com/a-lists/top-50-nih-funded-institutions-of-2020/|access-date=2021-04-25|website=GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News|language=en-US}}</ref> It fulfills the majority of its mission via an extramural program that provides [[NIH grants|grants]] for cancer research. Additionally, the National Cancer Institute has [[NIH Intramural Research Program|intramural research programs]] in [[Bethesda, Maryland]], and at the [[Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncifcrf.gov/|title=NCI-Frederick: NCI-Frederick Home Page|website=NCIfCrf.gov|language=en-US|access-date=18 December 2011|archive-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016221828/http://www.ncifcrf.gov/|url-status=dead}}</ref> at [[Fort Detrick]] in [[Frederick, Maryland]]. The NCI receives more than {{USD|5 billion}} in funding each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/budget/fact-book/historical-trends/funding|title=Funding Trends |publisher=National Cancer Institute |language=en-US|date=2018-12-20}}</ref>

The NCI supports a nationwide network of 73 [[NCI-designated Cancer Center]]s with a dedicated focus on cancer research and treatment<ref name="cancer.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers|title=NCI-Designated Cancer Centers|date=5 April 2012|publisher=National Cancer Institute |language=en-US|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> and maintains the National Clinical Trials Network.<ref name="cancer.gov1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/research/areas/clinical-trials/nctn|title=NCI's National Clinical Trials Network |publisher=National Cancer Institute |language=en-US|date=2014-05-29}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Timeline ===
[[File:Wooden sign.jpg|thumb|An early wooden sign for the National Cancer Institute]]

[[File:NIH building 6 groundbreaking.jpg|thumb|Members of the first National Advisory Cancer Council at the groundbreaking ceremonies of the NCI's building 6 in Bethesda, Maryland (June 1938)]]

* August 5, 1937: President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] signed into law the National Cancer Institute Act (Pub. Law 75-244; 50 Stat. 559), which established the National Cancer Institute, as a division of the [[United States Public Health Service|Public Health Service]].<ref name="JNCI">{{Cite journal|title=National Cancer Institute Act: Text of the Act of August 5, 1937, creating the National Cancer Institute and authorizing an appropriation therefor|journal=JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute|date=1 August 1957|volume=19|issue=2|pages=133–137|language=en-US|doi=10.1093/jnci/19.2.133|pmid=13502712 |issn=0027-8874}}</ref><ref name="LW1937">{{Cite web|url=http://legisworks.org/sal/50/toc50.html|title=Statutes at Large Volume 50 (1937) Table of Contents; VOL. 49 – VOL. 51|website=LegisWorks.org|language=en-US|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306050456/http://www.legisworks.org/sal/50/toc50.html|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="P.L.244">{{Cite web|url=http://legisworks.org/congress/75/publaw-244.pdf|title=75th Congress Public Law 244|website=LegisWorks.org|language=en-US|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307053937/http://www.legisworks.org/congress/75/publaw-244.pdf|archive-date=7 March 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="50Stat559">{{Cite web|url=http://legisworks.org/sal/50/stats/STATUTE-50-Pg559.pdf|title=Statute 50 Page 559|website=LegisWorks.org|language=en-US|access-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317080953/http://legisworks.org/sal/50/stats/STATUTE-50-Pg559.pdf|archive-date=17 March 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
* 1940: The first issue of the ''[[Journal of the National Cancer Institute]]'' was published.
* 1944: The [[United States Congress]] made the NCI an operating division of the [[National Institutes of Health]] by its passage of the [[Public Health Service Act]]. Congress later amended the [[Public Health Service Act]] with the [[National Cancer Act of 1971]], to broaden the scope and responsibilities of the NCI "in order more effectively to carry out the national effort against cancer."
* 1955: NCI established the Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program, which included several research networks that conducted cancer clinical research primarily under the sponsorship of NCI.
* 1957: The first cancer, [[choriocarcinoma]], was cured with [[chemotherapy]] at NCI.
* 1960: NCI began funding [[Federal government of the United States|government]]-supported cancer centers.
* 1971: President [[Richard Nixon]] converted the [[United States Army|U.S. Army's]] former [[biological warfare]] facilities at [[Fort Detrick]], [[Maryland]], to house research activities on the causes, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
* 1971: The [[War on cancer#National Cancer Act of 1971|National Cancer Act of 1971]] declares "war on cancer", establishes the National Cancer Advisory Board, and allots additional funding for cancer research.
* 1975: The [[Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research]] opened in Frederick, Maryland, as a [[Federally Funded Research and Development Center]]
* 1993: The [[NIH Revitalization Act of 1993]] encourages NCI to expand its efforts in prostate cancer, breast and other cancers which primarily or solely affected women, and authorized increased appropriations.
* 1998: Establishes the [[Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine]] to study pseudoscientific [[alternative medicine]] treatments for cancer
* 2009: The [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]] provided {{USD|10 billion|link=yes}} in additional funding for the NIH; the NCI received {{USD|1.3 billion}} from that amount.
* 2016: The [[21st Century Cures Act]] increased funding for biomedical research. The "Cancer Moonshot" program promised additional support for cancer research.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/nih-almanac/national-cancer-institute-nci|title=December 13, 2016—Important Events in NCI History—National Cancer Institute (NCI)|date=18 October 2017|work=NIH Almanac|language=en-US|access-date=1 January 2019}}</ref>
* On October 17, 2017, [[Norman Sharpless]] was sworn in as the 15th director of the National Cancer Institute. In April 2019, Sharpless left NCI to serve as the acting [[Commissioner of Food and Drugs]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/health/fda-ned-sharpless.html|title=National Cancer Chief, Ned Sharpless, Named F.D.A.'s Acting Commissioner|last=Kaplan|first=Sheila|date=2019-03-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-04|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He returned to the institute in November 2019 as director.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/statement-return-dr-ned-sharpless-nci-director/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127204434/https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/statement-return-dr-ned-sharpless-nci-director |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2019 |title=Statement on the return of Dr. Ned Sharpless as NCI Director |last=Collins |first=Francis |author-link=Francis Collins |date=November 1, 2019 |website=The NIH Director |access-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref>

===Anti-cancer drug investigations===
<div style="float:left; width:49%;">{{smalldiv|1=
[[Alkylating antineoplastic agent|Alkylating agent]]s [[Image:Cyclophosphamide structure.svg|right|thumb|96px|[[Cyclophosphamide]]]]
* [[Chlorambucil]] ([[Leukeran]]) (1957)
* [[Cyclophosphamide]] ([[Cytoxan]]) (1959)
* [[Thiotepa]] (1959)
* [[Melphalan]] ([[Alkeran]]) (1959) ([[Intravenous therapy|IV]] in 1993)
* [[Streptozotocin]] ([[Zanosar]]) (1982)
* [[Ifosfamide]] ([[Ifex]]) (1988)

[[Antimetabolite]]s
* [[Mercaptopurine]] (1953)
* [[Methotrexate]] (1953)
* [[Tioguanine|Thioguanine]] (1966)
* [[Cytosine arabinoside]] ([[Ara-C]]) (1969)
* [[Floxuridine]] ([[FUDR]]) (1970)
* [[Fludarabine phosphate]] (1991)
* [[Pentostatin]] (1991)
* [[Cladribine|Chlorodeoxyadenosine]] (1992)

Plant [[alkaloid]]s and [[antibiotic]]s [[Image:Vincristine.svg|right|thumb|114px|[[Vincristine]]]]
* [[Vincristine]] ([[Oncovin]]) (1963)
* [[Actinomycin D]] ([[Cosmegen]]) (1964)
* [[Mithramycin]] ([[Mithracin]]) (1970)
* [[Bleomycin]] ([[Blenoxane]]) (1973)
* [[Doxorubicin]] ([[Adriamycin]]) (1974)
* [[Mitomycin C]] ([[Mutamycin]]) (1974)
* [[L-Asparaginase]] ([[Elspar]]) (1978)
* [[Daunomycin]] ([[Cerubidine]]) (1979)
* [[VP-16-213]] ([[Etoposide]]) (1983)
* [[VM-26]] ([[Teniposide]]) (1992)
* [[Taxol]] ([[Paclitaxel]]) (1992)

Plant [[flavonoid]]s
* [[chrysin]] [[quercetin]] [[galangin]] [[naringenin]] (1994)}}
</div><div style="float:right; width:49%;">{{smalldiv|1=
[[Chemical synthesis|Synthetic]] drugs [[File:Carboplatin-2D-skeletal.png|thumb|107px|[[Carboplatin]]]]
* [[Hydroxyurea]] ([[Hydroxycarbamide|Hydrea]]) (1967)
* [[Procarbazine]] ([[Matulane]]) (1969)
* O, P'-DDD ([[Lysodren]], [[Mitotane]]) (1970)
* [[Dacarbazine]] ([[DTIC]]) (1975)
* [[Lomustine|CCNU]] ([[Lomustine]]) (1976)
* [[BCNU]] ([[Carmustine]]) (1977)
* [[Cisplatin|Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (Cisplatin)]] (1978)
* [[Mitoxantrone]] ([[Novantrone]]) (1988)
* [[Carboplatin]] ([[Paraplatin]]) (1989)
* [[Levamisole]] ([[Ergamisol]]) (1990)
* [[Altretamine|Hexamethylmelamine]] ([[Altretamine|Hexalen]]) (1990)
* [[Tretinoin|All-trans retinoid acid]] ([[Vesanoid]]) (1995)
* [[Porfimer sodium]] ([[Photofrin]]) (1995)

[[Hormone]]s and [[steroid]]s
* [[Diethylstilbestrol|DES]] (1950)
* [[Prednisone]] (1953)
* [[Fluoxymesterone]] ([[Halotestin]]) (1958)
* [[Dromostanolone]] ([[Drolban]]) (1961)
* [[Testolactone]] ([[Teslac]]) (1970)
* [[Methyl prednisolone]]
* [[Prednisolone]]
* [[Zoladex]] (1989)

Biologicals
* Alpha [[interferon]] ([[Intron A]], [[Roferon-A]]) (1986)
* [[Bacillus Calmette-Guérin|BCG]] ([[TheraCys]], [[TICE]]) (1990)
* [[G-CSF]] (1991)
* [[GM-CSF]] (1991)
* [[Interleukin 2]] ([[Proleukin]]) (1992)}}
</div>{{Clear}}

== Organization ==
The NCI is divided into several divisions and centers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization#divisions|title=NCI Organization|website=National Cancer Institute|date=1980-01-01}}</ref>

=== Intramural ===
* [https://ccr.cancer.gov Center for Cancer Research]
:: The CCR includes approximately 250 internal NCI research groups in Frederick and Bethesda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ccr.cancer.gov/about|title=About CCR|date=21 July 2014}}</ref>
* [https://dceg.cancer.gov/ Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics]
:: DCEG is made up of eight branches within the Trans-divisional Research Program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dceg.cancer.gov|title=DCEG Home|website=Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics – National Cancer Institute|date=1980-01-01}}</ref>

=== Extramural ===
* Division of Cancer Biology
:: DCB oversees approximately 2000 grants per year in the areas of cancer cell biology; cancer immunology, hematology, and etiology; DNA and chromosome aberrations; structural biology and molecular applications; tumor biology and microenvironment; and tumor metastasis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/dcb/research-portfolio|title=DCB Research Portfolio|website=National Cancer Institute|date=2016-08-08}}</ref> "Special Research Programs" falling under the aegis of the DCB include: [[Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers|Physical Sciences-Oncology Network]], Cancer Systems Biology Consortium, Oncology Models Forum, Barrett's Esophagus Translational Research Network, New Approaches to Synthetic Lethality for Mutant KRAS-Dependent Cancers, Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Screen-Detected Lesions, Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers, and Cancer Tissue Engineering Collaborative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/organization/dcb|title=Division of Cancer Biology|website=National Cancer Institute|date=2016-08-08}}</ref>
* Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
* Division of Cancer Prevention
* Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis
:: DCTD supports eight research programs: The Biometric Research Program, The Cancer Diagnosis Program, The Cancer Imaging Program, The Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, The Developmental Therapeutics Program, The Radiation Research Program, The Translational Research Program, and The [[Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dctd.cancer.gov/About/default.htm|title=About DCTD – DCTD|website=dctd.cancer.gov}}</ref>
* Division of Extramural Activities
:: DEA processes and supports the thousands of grant applications NCI receives each year and compiles reports on the progress of research funded by the NCI's programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/aboutDEA.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515165433/http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/aboutDEA.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 15, 2010|title=About NCI Division of Extramural Activities|website=deainfo.nci.nih.gov}}</ref>

=== Office of the director ===
* Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology
* Center for Cancer Genomics
:: CCG was created in 2011 and is responsible for management of [[The Cancer Genome Atlas]] and cancer genomics initiatives.
* Center for Cancer Training
* Center for Global Health
* Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives
:: In the 1990s, the Unconventional Innovation Program was created to integrate interdisciplinary technology research with biological applications. It was reorganized in 2004 as the CSSI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cssi.cancer.gov/about/history|title=History – Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives (CSSI)|website=cssi.cancer.gov|access-date=2017-09-28|archive-date=2017-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929001136/https://cssi.cancer.gov/about/history|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities
* Center for Research Strategy
* Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials
* Technology Transfer Center

== Programs ==
{{Further|Informatics for Consumer Health}}

=== NCI-designated Cancer Centers ===
The [[NCI-designated Cancer Center]]s are one of the primary arms in the NCI's mission in supporting cancer research. There are currently 73 so-designated centers; 9 cancer centers, 57 comprehensive cancer centers, and 7 basic laboratory cancer centers. NCI supports these centers with grant funding in the form of P30 Cancer Center Support Grants to support shared research resources and interdisciplinary programs. Additionally, faculty at the cancer centers receive approximately 75% of the grant funding awarded by the NCI to individual investigators.<ref name="cancer.gov"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cancercenters.cancer.gov/|title=OCC Homepage – OCCWebApp 2.1.0|website=cancercenters.cancer.gov}}</ref>

The NCI cancer centers program was introduced in 1971 with 15 participating institutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers/history|title=History of the NCI Cancer Centers Program|website=National Cancer Institute|date=2012-08-13}}</ref>

=== National Clinical Trials Network ===
The National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) was formed in 2014, from the Cooperative Group program to modernize the existing system to support [[precision medicine]] clinical trials. With precision medicine, many patients must be screened to determine eligibility for treatments in development.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

Lead Academic Participating Sites (LAPS) were chosen at 30 academic institutions for their ability to conduct clinical trials and screen a large number of participants and awarded grants to support the infrastructure and administration required for clinical trials. Most LAPS grant recipients are also NCI-designated cancer centers.<ref name="cancer.gov1"/> NCTN also stores surgical tissue from patients in a nationwide network of tissue banks at various universities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCTN Biospecimen Banks |url=https://nctnbanks.cancer.gov/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=nctnbanks.cancer.gov |language=en}}</ref>

=== Developmental Therapeutics Program ===

The NCI Development Therapeutics Program (DTP) provides services and resources to the academic and private-sector research communities worldwide to facilitate the discovery and development of new cancer therapeutic agents.<ref name=program>
{{cite web
 |url= https://dtp.cancer.gov/
 |title= Welcome to the Developmental Therapeutics Program
 |website= [[Developmental Therapeutics Program]]
 |publisher= National Cancer Institute
 |access-date= 6 January 2018
}}
</ref>

{{anchor|Discovery & Development Services}}Under the label "Discovery & Development Services" several services are offered, among them the [[#NCI-60 Human Tumor Cell Lines Screen|NCI-60 human cancer cell line screen]] and the Molecular Target Program.<ref name=services>{{cite web
 |url= https://dtp.cancer.gov/discovery_development/default.htm
 |title= Discovery & Development Services
 |date= 26 August 2015
 |website= [[Developmental Therapeutics Program]]
 |publisher= National Cancer Institute
 |access-date= 6 January 2018
 |archive-date= 9 July 2017
 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170709235548/https://dtp.cancer.gov/discovery_development/default.htm
 |url-status= dead
 }}</ref>

{{anchor|Molecular Target Program}}In the Molecular Target Program thousands of molecular targets have been measured in the NCI panel of 60 human tumor cell lines. Measurements include protein levels, RNA measurements, mutation status and enzyme activity levels.<ref name=targets>
{{cite web
 |url= https://dtp.cancer.gov/databases_tools/molecular_target/default.htm
 |title= Molecular Targets
 |date= 12 May 2015
 |website= [[Developmental Therapeutics Program]]
 |publisher= National Cancer Institute
 |access-date= 7 January 2018
}}
</ref>

==== NCI-60 Human Tumor Cell Lines Screen ====

The evolution of strategies at the NCI illustrates the changes in screening that have resulted from advances in cancer biology. The Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP) operates a tiered anti-cancer compound screening program with the goal of identifying novel chemical leads and biological mechanisms. The DTP screen is a three phase screen which includes: an initial screen which first involves a single dose [[cytotoxicity]] screen with the [[NCI-60|60 cell line assay]]. Those passing certain thresholds are subjected to a 5 dose screen of the same 60 cell-line panel to determine a more detailed picture of the biological activity. A second phase screen establishes the maximum tolerable dosage and involves [[in vivo]] examination of [[neoplasm|tumor]] regression using the hollow fiber assay. The third phase of the study is the human tumor [[xenotransplantation|xenograft]] evaluation.

Active compounds are selected for testing based on several criteria: disease type specificity in the [[in vitro]] assay, unique structure, potency, and demonstration of a unique pattern of cellular cytotoxicity or cytostasis, indicating a unique mechanism of action or [[intracellular]] target.

A high correlation of cytotoxicity with compounds of known biological mechanism is often predictive of the drugs mechanism of action and thus a tool to aid in the drug development and testing. It also tells if there is any unique response of the drug which is not similar to any of the standard prototype compounds in the NCI database.

==Leadership==
List of NCI directors since 1937:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/leadership/previous |title=Previous NCI Directors  |publisher=NCI}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! {{Abbr|No.|Number}} !! Portrait !! Director !! Term start !! Term end !! class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Refs.|References}}
|-
|1
| [[File:Portrait photo of Carl Voegtlin.jpg|70px]] || [[Carl Voegtlin]] || January 13, 1938 || July 31, 1943 ||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/nih-almanac/national-cancer-institute-nci|title=National Cancer Institute (NCI)|date=7 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
|2
| [[File:Roscoe Roy Spencer.jpg|70px]] || [[Roscoe Roy Spencer]]
|style="white-space: nowrap;"| August 1, 1943 || July 1, 1947
|-
|3
| [[File:Rear Admiral Leonard Scheele.jpg|70px]] || [[Leonard Andrew Scheele]]{{efn|name=Scheele}} || July 1, 1947 || April 6, 1948 || 
|-
|4
| [[File:John R. Heller.jpg|70px]] || [[John Roderick Heller]] || May 15, 1948 || July 1, 1960 ||
|-
|5
| [[File:Former National Cancer Institute director Kenneth Endicott (1960-1969).jpg|70px]] || [[Kenneth Milo Endicott]]|| July 1, 1960 || November 10, 1969 ||
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
| acting
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" | [[File:Carl Gwin Baker.jpg|70px]]
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" | [[Carl Gwin Baker]]
| November 11, 1969 || July 12, 1970
|
|-
| 6
| July 13, 1970 || May 5, 1972
|<ref name="Fact Book 1999">{{cite book |url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/budget/fact-book/archive/1999-fact-book.pdf |title=NCI Budget Fact Book FY 1999 |page=6 |date=1999 |publisher=NCI}}</ref>
|-
|7
|style="white-space: nowrap;"| [[File:Frank Joseph Rauscher.jpg|70px]] || [[Frank Joseph Rauscher, Jr.]]|| May 5, 1972 || November 1, 1976 ||
|-
|8
| [[File:Former National Cancer Institute director Arthur Upton (1977 - 1979) (1).jpg|70px]] || [[Arthur C. Upton|Arthur Canfield Upton]]|| July 29, 1977 || December 31, 1980 ||
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
| acting
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" | [[File:Nci-vol-2727-300 Vincent DeVita.jpg|70px]]
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" | [[Vincent T. DeVita, Jr.]]
| January 1, 1980 || July 8, 1980
|
|-
| 9
| July 9, 1980 || September 1, 1988
| <ref name="Fact Book 1999" />
|-
|10
| [[File:Samuel Broder MD nci-vol-4344-300.jpg|70px]] || [[Samuel Broder]] || nowrap| December 22, 1988 || April 1, 1995 ||
|-
|11
| [[File:Richard D. Klausner 2002.jpg|70px]] || [[Richard D. Klausner]]{{efn|name=Klausner}} || August 1, 1995 || nowrap| September 30, 2001 || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2002/05/Dr-Richard-D-Klausner-Executive-Director-of-Global-Health |title=Dr. Richard D. Klausner Named Executive Director of Global Health for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|[[File:Al Rabson 1926-2018 (42311635815).jpg|70px]]
|[[Alan S. Rabson]]
|October 1, 2001
|January 21, 2002
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nih.gov/news/pr/oct2001/hhs-01.htm |title=RICHARD KLAUSNER LEAVES NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE; SECRETARY THOMPSON NAMES ALAN RABSON ACTING NCI DIRECTOR |date=October 1, 2001 |publisher=NIH |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020104152834/https://www.nih.gov/news/pr/oct2001/hhs-01.htm |archive-date=2002-01-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|12
| [[File:AVonEchenbach2.jpg|70px]] || [[Andrew C. von Eschenbach]]{{efn|name=von Eschenbach}} || January 22, 2002 || June 10, 2006 || <ref name="congressional_record_confirmation">{{cite journal | author = U.S. Congress |date=7 December 2006 | title = Executive Session | journal = Congressional Record | volume = 152 | issue = 134 | pages = S11404–29, S11447–51 | url = http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2006_record&page=S11404&position=all | access-date = 2006-12-12}}</ref><ref name="confirmation_vote">{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00274|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress – 2nd Session|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" | [[File:Jniederhuber-photo.jpg|70px]]
|rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffffff" | [[John E. Niederhuber]]{{efn|name=Niederhuber}}
|June 11, 2006
|September 14, 2006
| 
|-
|13
| September 15, 2006
| July 12, 2010
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://investors.emergentbiosolutions.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=202582&p=irol-govBio&ID=203684 |title=Emergent Biosolutions – Board of Directors bio |access-date=2013-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/president-bush-announces-his-intention-appoint-john-e-niederhuber-13th-director-national-cancer-institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926063757/https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/president-bush-announces-his-intention-appoint-john-e-niederhuber-13th-director-national-cancer-institute |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |title=President Bush Announces His Intention to Appoint John E. Niederhuber the 13th Director of the National Cancer Institute |date=August 16, 2006 |publisher=NIH}}</ref>
|-
|14
| [[File:National Cancer Institute director Harold E. Varmus (3) (cropped).jpg|70px]] || [[Harold Varmus]]{{efn|name=Varmus2}} || July 12, 2010 || March 31, 2015 || <ref name="Varmus">{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/director/messages/harold-varmus-resignation |title=Director's Page – National Cancer Institute (Archive) |publisher=Cancer.gov |access-date=2015-04-02 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/5574/20150331220844/http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/director/messages/harold-varmus-resignation |archive-date=2015-03-31 }}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|[[File:Dr. Douglas.R.Lowy.jpg|70px]]
|[[Douglas R. Lowy]]
|April 1, 2015
|October 16, 2017
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2015/lowy-named-acting-nci-director-april-2015 |title=Douglas Lowy named Acting Director of the National Cancer Institute |date=April 1, 2015 |publisher=NCI}}</ref>
|-
|15
| [[File:Ned Sharpless official portrait.jpg|70px]] || [[Norman Sharpless|Norman E. Sharpless]]{{efn|name=Sharpless}}|| October 17, 2017 || April 29, 2022 ||<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/about-nci/leadership/director |title=NCI Director Dr. Norman E. Sharpless—Director's Page—Leadership—About NCI |date=18 December 2018 |publisher=National Cancer Institute |language=en-US |access-date=1 January 2019 |archive-date=22 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222031612/http://www.cancer.gov//director |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ned.nih.gov/search/ViewDetails.aspx?NIHID=2002045786 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102193503/https://ned.nih.gov/search/ViewDetails.aspx?NIHID=2002045786 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 2019 |title=Dr Norman Edward Sharpless, MD, NIH Enterprise Directory (NED) |website=NED.NIH.gov |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|[[File:Dr. Douglas.R.Lowy.jpg|70px]]
|[[Douglas R. Lowy]]
|April 30, 2022
|October 16, 2022
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2022/nci-director-norman-sharpless-steps-down |title=Norman Sharpless steps down as director of the National Cancer Institute |date=April 4, 2022 |publisher=NCI}}</ref>
|-
|16
| [[File:Monica M. Bertagnolli, NCI Director.png|70px]] || [[Monica Bertagnolli]]{{efn|name=Bertagnolli}}
|October 17, 2022
|November 9, 2023
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-03 |title=Monica Bertagnolli becomes NCI director - NCI |url=https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2022/bertagnolli-nci-director |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.cancer.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://irp.nih.gov/catalyst/32/1/confirmed-bertagnolli-named-director |title=CONFIRMED: Bertagnolli Named Director |volume=32 |issue=1 |date=January–February 2024 |journal=The NIH Catalyst}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|[[File:Dr. Douglas.R.Lowy.jpg|70px]]
|[[Douglas R. Lowy]]
|November 10, 2023
|December 17, 2023
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://respiratory-therapy.com/public-health/cancer-surgeon-confirmed-new-nih-director/ |title=Cancer Surgeon Confirmed as New NIH Director |date=November 13, 2023 |publisher=Respiratory Therapy}}</ref>
|-
|17
| [[File:NCI Director Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell.jpg|70px]] || [[Kimryn Rathmell]]{{efn|name=Rathmell}}
|December 18, 2023
|January 20, 2025
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-18 |title=W. Kimryn Rathmell begins work as 17th director of the National Cancer Institute |url=https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2023/rathmell-nci-director |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=www.cancer.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=1880326507077243388 |user=theNCI |date=January 17, 2025 |title=Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell will step down as @NCIDirector, effective Monday, January 20. |author=National Cancer Institute}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#e6e6aa"
|acting
|[[File:Dr. Douglas.R.Lowy.jpg|70px]]
|[[Douglas R. Lowy]]
|January 21, 2025
|present
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://oncodaily.com/insight/douglas-r-lowy-228621 |title=Douglas R. Lowy has been appointed as the New Acting Director of National Cancer Institute |date=January 21, 2025 |publisher=NCI}}</ref>
|-
|}

Table notes:

{{notelist|refs=
 {{efn|name=Scheele|Served as the seventh [[Surgeon General of the United States]] from 1948 to 1956.}}
 {{efn|name=Klausner|11th Director, left to become President of the Case Institute of Health, Science, and Technology and later Executive Director of Global Health for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.}}
 {{efn|name=von Eschenbach|12th Director, served from 2001 to 2006 before transitioning to a role as [[Commissioner of Food and Drugs]].}}
 {{efn|name=Niederhuber|13th Director of the NCI, was nominated by President [[George W. Bush]].}}
 {{efn|name=Varmus2|14th Director of the NCI. Co-winner of the [[Nobel Prize]] for studies of the genetic basis of cancer. He was director of the [[National Institutes of Health]] from 1993 to 1999.}}
 {{efn|name=Sharpless|15th Director of the NCI. Transitioned to acting [[Commissioner of Food and Drugs]] in April 2019 and returned to NCI in November 2019.}}
 {{efn|name=Bertagnolli|16th Director of NCI. First woman to hold the position. Became 17th NIH director.}}
 {{efn|name=Rathmell|17th Director of NCI.}}
}}

== Notable NCI faculty ==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Amy Berrington de González]], senior investigator and radiation epidemiology branch chief.
* [[Kathryn Zoon]], Principal Deputy Director, 2002 to 2004.
* [[Michael B. Sporn]] was the Chief of the Laboratory of Chemoprevention, 1978 to 1995.
* [[Tom Misteli]], NIH Distinguished Investigator and Director of the NCI Center for Cancer Research
* [[Susan Gottesman]]
* [[Sankar Adhya]]
* [[Ira Pastan]]
* [[Elaine Jaffe]]
* [[Michael M. Gottesman|Michael Gottesman]]
* [[Robert C. Gallo]]
* [[Rosandra N. Kaplan]], head of the tumor microenvironment and metastasis branch
* [[Michael Potter (immunologist)|Michael Potter]]
* [[Sandra Wolin]]
* [[Charles J. Sherr]]
* [[Louis M. Staudt]]
* [[Gordon Zubrod]]
* [[Steven Rosenberg]]
* [[Alfred Singer]], Chief of the Experimental Immunology Branch of the National Cancer Institute
* [[Xiaohong Rose Yang]], senior investigator.
* [[Douglas R. Lowy]], Chief, Laboratory of Cellular Oncology; NCI Principal Deputy Director, initial development, characterization, and clinical testing of the preventive virus-like particle-based HPV vaccines.
{{colend}}

==Notable people==
<!---♦♦♦Harry Gelboin♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
* [[Susan Shurin]], senior adviser
* [[Sudhir Srivastava]], chief scientist at Cancer Biomarkers Research Group of the Division of Cancer Prevention
* [[Catharine West]] and Barry Rosenstein, lead investigators for the ''Radio-Genomics Consortium'' (established 2009)

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[American Cancer Society Center]]
* [[caBIG]], the Cancer BioInformatics Grid, a National Cancer Institute (USA) initiative to link cancer researchers and their data
* [[Cancer Information Service]] (CIS)
* [[European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer]] (EORTC)
* ''[[Journal of the National Cancer Institute]]''
* [[National Comprehensive Cancer Network]]
* [[NCI-designated Cancer Center]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes and references ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== General references ===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100527085250/http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/director-announced?cid=B_ND National Cancer Institute] Retrieved 11 June 2010.
* [http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/overview/mission "NCI MISSION STATEMENT"]. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 18 August 2004.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041018173821/http://www3.cancer.gov/legis/1971canc.html "THE NATIONAL CANCER ACT OF 1971"]. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 18 August 2004.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120627051011/http://dctd.cancer.gov/ProgramPages/dtp/default.htm Developmental Therapeutics Program (DTP)]

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.usaspending.gov/federal_account/075-0849 NCI] account on [[USAspending.gov]]
* [https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries NCI Dictionaries]: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms (utilizing non-technical language) • NCI Dictionary of Genetics Terms (for healthcare professionals) • NCI Drug Dictionary (includes links for potential [[clinical trial]]s)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200509215958/https://history.nih.gov/display/history/NCI NCI] in ''A Short History of the National Institutes of Health'', an online exhibit by the Office of NIH History
* [https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/nih-almanac/national-cancer-institute-nci Important Events in NCI History] from the ''NIH Almanac''
* [https://www.cancer.gov/PublishedContent/Images/images/infographics/major-nci-milestones-enlarge.__v1100247949.gif Major NCI Milestones] [[infographic]]

{{National Institutes of Health}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cancer research organizations]]
[[Category:Cancer organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:National Institutes of Health|Cancer Institute]]
[[Category:Medical research institutes in Maryland]]
[[Category:75th United States Congress]]
[[Category:1937 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1937]]