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.
About DKFZ
With more than 3,000 employees, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute. DKFZ scientists identify cancer risk factors, investigate how cancer progresses and develop new cancer prevention strategies. They are also developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to questions relating to cancer.
To transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improve the prognosis of cancer patients, the DKFZ cooperates with excellent research institutions and university hospitals throughout Germany:
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT, 6 sites)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, 8 sites)
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg
- Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology (HI-TRON Mainz) - A Helmholtz Institute of the DKFZ
- DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim
- National Cancer Prevention Center (jointly with German Cancer Aid)
The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.