Big data applications in cancer research: A case study at the Brazilian national cancer institute

Abstract

The development of smart devices, Internet of Things (IOT) and cloud computing is generating an expressive increase in the volume of public health data that can be collected from various sources and analyzed in an unprecedented way. The demand for Big Data analysis is increasing progressively. The development of applications that support the continuing evaluation of early detection programs is among the priorities in Brazil’s cancer control. This paper presents the development of a big data application employed on the management, processing and analysis of large-scale Brazilian cancer diseases data, and the benefits for cancer prevention and control derived from its implementation.