Message from the Editor-in-Chief

I am pleased to have this opportunity to update the readership on some important changes to Cancer Research in 2004 and to discuss our plans for 2005.

Journal Statistics and Acceptance Criteria

The journal received over 4,500 new submissions in 2004, which represents an increase of 10% over the number of submissions received in 2003. I am honored that authors are choosing Cancer Research as a potential vehicle for their work, and I believe that thisrecord number of submissions is indicative of a desire by the cancer research community to publish their findings in a vital publication such as Cancer Research. However, as a result of this significant increase in submissions, and to ensure that journal publishes only those studies of the highest impact, I must remind authors that the journal can accept only those submissions that have been judged to be in the top 20% for Research Articles and inthe top 10% for Priority Reports (formerly Advances in Brief) submissions. Unfortunately, these criteria mean that many studies that have scientific merit butare judged to be of lower priority for publication in comparison with other submitted studies cannot be accepted.

Updated Information for Authors

Earlier this year, the journal's Information for Authors was rewritten in a concise, reader-friendly fashion. These instructions provide potential authors and other interested parties with submission instructions, new guidelines on article length, use of abbreviations, reference style, and posting of supplementary data as well as acceptance criteria and links to many other useful resources. These new instructions can be accessed online at http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/misc/ifora.shtml. If you are considering submitting a manuscript to Cancer Research, I strongly suggest that you review this important document before submitting your work.

Cancer Research Highlights

In March 2004, this innovative feature was added to the journal. Appearing at the beginning of each issue, this section contains brief summaries and, space permitting, illustrations from articles judged by the Editors to be of the highest priority. These summaries allow journal readers to find out rapidly why these studies are important, how they were carried out, and their relevance within the context of cancer science. These highlighted articles are offered online for anyone to view for two weeks after the publication of each issue. I am certain that this increased access to selected articles will increase readership of all the articles in the journal.

Initiatives for 2005

The early 2005 issues of Cancer Research will debut three exciting changes to the journal.

The first change is the implementation of a section devoted entirely to Review articles. I am pleased to report that Dr. George C. Prendergast has accepted my invitation to serve as the Deputy Editor for this notable area of publication. Dr. Prendergast will be assisted by three expert Reviews Editors: Drs. Martine F. Roussel, Eric K. Rowinsky, and Danny R. Welch. This group of Editors is undertaking the important task of soliciting and overseeing the peer review process of thought-provoking Reviews on topics of interest to the broad readership of the journal. Authors of potential Review articles are encouraged to submit an abstract or a detailed outline of their work to cancerres{at}aacr.org so that the Editors can determine the suitability of the subject matter.

The second change is a complete internal redesign of the journal. The look of the entire interior portion of the publication will be changed; everything from the typeface, manuscript layout, section headings, and the paper on which the journal is printed. I am confident that the internal restyling of the journal will enhance the reader's experience by presenting the information in the clearest possible manner.

The final change is a renaming of the Advances in Brief category of publication. Beginning with this issue, the new name for this category will be Priority Reports. I feel that this name change will relay to the readership the importance, novelty, and timeliness of this category, which has become one of the most popular features in Cancer Research.

A Summary

In 2005, we will remain committed to enhancing the experience of both our authors and readers. Our commitment to this goal includes reducing review time further while providing rigorous and impartial evaluation of manuscripts. We will also continue to refine our online submission and peer review process and will strive to enhance our Editorial Board to reflect a broader range of expertise. In addition, we are currently recruiting a full-time Assistant Editor who will help develop content, including expanding Meeting Reports, Editorials and Commentaries, and other special features.

In conclusion, I would like to recognize the Senior Editors, Editorial Board, Reviewers, and AACR Publications Staff for their diligence and dedication to the journal. I would also like to thank the AACR Board of Directors, Dr. Margaret Foti, and the AACR Publications Committee for their support of the journal as we move forward.