Letter to the Editorial Board of Cancer Biology and Therapy

Abstract

Dear Editorial Board members:

I am writing to wish you a happy new year and to update you on the progress of Cancer Biology and Therapy during 2004.

Beginning with the January issue in 2004 CBT started publishing every month. This was preceded by an increase in the volume of unsolicited manuscript submissions noted for several months in the previous calendar year of 2003. During 2004 we received well over 300 submissions to CBT and as should be evident from the contents there has been a steady increase in the number of articles published per issue as the number of published issues has doubled.

With the January 2004 issue of CBT we began a new section entitled “Journal Club” which has published a number of descriptions plus critiques of current articles of interest published in other journals. There has been interest in this format and we continue to receive unsolicited contributions.

In April of 2004 the journal JAMA published an outstanding review on CBT.

With the May 2004 issue of CBT we began a new section entitled “News” which publishes highlights of exciting breakthroughs as they are published. This section has provided a good opportunity to group cancer related news of interest to our readership. News has not only included scientific breakthroughs but also has included news about major awards or new institutes of interest to the readership.

With the June 2004 issue of CBT we began a new section entitled “Focused Review Series” which has allowed a grouping of reviews on specific topics of interest to the cancer research community.

The first ISI Impact Factor for CBT was announced in the summer of 2004 and we were delighted that CBT is among the top 10% of all published journals with an Impact Factor of 3.024. We will continue to work towards improving the impact of CBT by continuing to raise our standards for publication as submissions increase in volume and the journal becomes even more popular.

Beginning in 2005 CBT is adopting an automated online Submission and Manuscript Tracking system that should greatly facilitate the review process and response time to authors of submitted manuscripts.

I believe the journal is doing very well and in addition to the sections that started in 2004 all sections that were previously appreciated are continuing. These include, in addition to Research Articles, Reviews, Commentaries, Bedside-to-Bench Reports, Book Reviews, Profiles and Legacies, Research Philosophy, Exegeses and Views, Meeting Reports, and the Editors Corner Section.

Thank you very much for your strong support of CBT and for all your efforts to make this one of the best journals that publishes molecular mechanisms as well as translational research in the field of cancer.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2005. I look forward to your comments and input in continuing to improve this journal. Please continue to encourage manuscript submissions to CBT.

Sincerely,

Wafik S. El-Deiry, M.D. Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief, CBT

December 18, 2004