In the past decades, outstanding progress in fundamental cancer biology has not translated into even distantly comparable advances in the clinic. Inadequacies in the ability to administer therapeutic molecules so that they will selectively reach the desired targets with marginal or no collateral damage has largely accounted for the discrepancy. The realization of such a system faces formidable challenges, including the identification of suitable targets of a neoplastic disease and the understanding of their evolution over time. The ultimate goal of nanotechnology applications in cancer is to develop new selective delivery systems able to avoid biological and biophysical barriers and to accumulate multiple therapeutics and contrast agents at the tumor site. The seminars offered in this educational session prove that nanotechnology, if properly integrated with established cancer research, provides extraordinary opportunities to meet these challenges.
Educational Session: Cancer Nanotherapeutics

Nanoprobes for cancer diagnostics and imaging; Tuan Vo-Dinh. Duke University, Durham, NC

Nanophotonic PRET and ONCOS for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics; Luke P. Lee. University of California, Berkeley, CA

Delivery of nanotherapeutics in solid tumors: Barriers and strategies; Rakesh K. Jain. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Rational design of multistage cancer nanotherapeutics; Mauro Ferrari. UT Health Science Ctr., Houston, TX,