Magnifying glass over interconnected data points, cancer ribbons in background.

Decoding Cancer Risks: How Tech Tools Are Revolutionizing Hazard Identification

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how cutting-edge software is making cancer hazard assessments more transparent and efficient, empowering individuals to make informed health decisions."

In the ongoing quest to minimize human exposure to carcinogens, organizations like the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the United States National Toxicology Program (NTP) Office of the Report on Carcinogens (RoC) play a crucial role. These entities conduct cancer hazard assessments using transparent and objective methods to inform public health actions.

Systematic reviews, characterized by structured and reproducible methods, have become essential in supporting evidence-based decision-making. The process involves multiple collaborators and includes comprehensive literature searches, followed by structured evidence evaluation and synthesis. Both IARC and NTP have historically relied on systematic reviews, integrating data from various domains such as human exposure, epidemiological evidence, experimental animal studies, and mechanistic evidence.

Recognizing the need to enhance collaboration and streamline the review process, several online tools have been developed and implemented. These tools, including the Health Assessment Workplace Collaborative (HAWC) and Table Builder, are custom solutions designed to record and share results from literature searches, data extraction, and analyses. Additionally, a content management system has been adopted to facilitate web-based project management and document submission, enabling simultaneous access and peer review by multiple co-authors.

HAWC: A Collaborative Workspace for Health Assessments

Magnifying glass over interconnected data points, cancer ribbons in background.

The Health Assessment Workplace Collaborative (HAWC) is a publicly accessible, online collaborative workspace designed to facilitate all aspects of environmental human health assessments. This web-based application features a content management system that allows users to create public or private assessments with a tiered permission system.

HAWC is developed using the Python-based Django web framework and a relational PostgreSQL database. Its open-source nature ensures that it is publicly available for reuse. The HAWC software is free and open to the public, with training videos available on the website to guide new users.

HAWC consists of a series of modules that can be used independently or in concert to evaluate data on hazards and dose-response across human, experimental animal, and mechanistic studies.
One key module supports literature search strategy and review, allowing teams to store, evaluate, share, and present multiple literature searches electronically.
References can be added via PubMed searches using MeSH tags, imported using PubMed identification numbers (PMID), or manually entered from sources other than PubMed.
HAWC allows for entire reference databases to be imported from common reference management software systems like Endnote or Reference Manager.

The literature tags for the triage of publications are fully customizable for each assessment and are hierarchical, resulting in tabular formats or visualizations. Exports of triaged reference lists and details of the total count with the various tags can be created. Once key literature is identified, data can be systematically extracted and reviewed for human health assessments.

Conclusion: Empowering Transparent and Timely Health Assessments

The software tools designed to facilitate systematic review, as discussed here, align with published frameworks and recommendations from various expert advisory groups. These tools have been implemented in multiple case studies and are now used routinely by state, federal, and international agencies. Standardization of the literature search and screening, data analysis, and peer review enhance human health assessments through web-based accessibility and interoperability.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1289/ehp4224, Alternate LINK

Title: Software Tools To Facilitate Systematic Review Used For Cancer Hazard Identification

Subject: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives

Publisher: Environmental Health Perspectives

Authors: Andrew J. Shapiro, Sébastien Antoni, Kathryn Z. Guyton, Ruth M. Lunn, Dana Loomis, Ivan Rusyn, Gloria D. Jahnke, Pamela J. Schwingl, Suril S. Mehta, Josh Addington, Neela Guha

Published: 2018-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is HAWC and how does it aid in cancer hazard assessments?

HAWC, or the Health Assessment Workplace Collaborative, is a publicly accessible, online collaborative workspace designed to facilitate environmental human health assessments. It's a web-based application built using the Python-based Django web framework and a PostgreSQL database. HAWC features a content management system for creating public or private assessments with a tiered permission system. The software includes modules for evaluating data on hazards and dose-response across human, experimental animal, and mechanistic studies. A key module within HAWC supports literature search strategy and review, allowing teams to store, evaluate, share, and present multiple literature searches electronically. References can be added via PubMed searches using MeSH tags, imported using PubMed identification numbers (PMID), or manually entered. It is an open-source tool, providing standardization and transparency in the assessment process.

How do organizations like IARC and NTP contribute to understanding cancer risks, and what role do systematic reviews play?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the United States National Toxicology Program (NTP) Office of the Report on Carcinogens (RoC) are crucial in minimizing human exposure to carcinogens. They conduct cancer hazard assessments using transparent and objective methods to inform public health actions. These assessments rely on systematic reviews, which employ structured and reproducible methods. Systematic reviews involve multiple collaborators and include comprehensive literature searches, structured evidence evaluation, and synthesis of data from various domains, such as human exposure, epidemiological evidence, experimental animal studies, and mechanistic evidence. Both IARC and NTP integrate data from these sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of cancer risks.

What are the key features of Table Builder, and how does it compare to HAWC?

Table Builder is mentioned as one of the software tools designed to record and share results from literature searches, data extraction, and analyses. While the provided text does not offer specific details about Table Builder's functions, it is a custom solution, much like HAWC. HAWC is described with more detail. HAWC offers modules for data evaluation, literature search support, and customizable triage of publications. It enables teams to store, evaluate, share, and present multiple literature searches electronically, offering a collaborative workspace for comprehensive environmental human health assessments. Both tools contribute to the standardization of the review process, enhancing human health assessments through web-based accessibility.

How do the software tools discussed improve the process of cancer hazard identification?

The software tools, including HAWC and Table Builder, revolutionize cancer hazard identification by making the process more transparent, objective, and accessible. These tools facilitate systematic reviews, which are essential for evidence-based decision-making. They standardize literature searches, data analysis, and peer review. HAWC, specifically, offers features like customizable literature tags and the ability to import reference databases, streamlining the process. By enhancing collaboration and streamlining the review process, these tools enable simultaneous access and peer review by multiple co-authors, leading to more timely and informed health assessments. They align with published frameworks and recommendations, and are used routinely by various agencies.

How is the information within HAWC managed, and what are the implications of its open-source nature?

HAWC utilizes a content management system to create public or private assessments, with a tiered permission system to control access. This allows for collaborative work while maintaining control over sensitive information. The open-source nature of HAWC, built using the Python-based Django web framework and a PostgreSQL database, ensures that the software is publicly available for reuse, fostering transparency and collaboration. Being open-source also allows for community contributions, improvements, and adaptations, enhancing the software's capabilities and ensuring its longevity. The availability of training videos further supports accessibility, making it easier for new users to understand and utilize its features.