Knowledge Transfer from Cancer Research

The International Journal of Cancer is dedicated to publishing and expanding biomedical knowledge about the causes, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. Since its foundation in 1966 by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) in Geneva the journal has operated first from the University of Helsinki, Department of Pathology, Finland, and then from the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Epalinges/Lausanne, Switzerland. Now, the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (German Cancer Research Center) in Heidelberg, Germany, is the third European research institution to assume responsibility for the publication of the journal.

The aim of the International Journal of Cancer, which is published in English, is to present news from the whole scope of international cancer research and to make this information available for a broad readership of scientists and other persons interested in cancer. The journal will continue to be dedicated to this founding mission under the new Editor-in-Chief, Professor Harald zur Hausen, Chairman and Scientific Member of the Management Board of the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum. On commission of the UICC, zur Hausen will run the journal for the next five years as of January 1st, 2000. There are plans to expand the journal’s coverage to take account of the emergence of new fields of research.

Expert knowledge on topics related to cancer risk factors and cancer prevention, tumor cell regulation, immunology, and tumor genetics will be provided by four divisional heads of the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum. Associate Editors Professor Helmut Bartsch, Professor Norbert Fusenig, Professor Peter Krammer, and Privatdozent Dr. Peter Lichter will support Professor Harald zur Hausen in selecting among the scientific papers submitted.

The publication process will also be coordinated at the Center. With the new year, Leslie Thomas from New York took up her work as Managing Editor in Heidelberg. Thomas, who previously worked for the "Journal of Cell Biology", will be responsible for managing the peer-review process of the manuscripts. In addition, she will be steering the later production phases in coordination with the journal’s New York-based publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc.