Cancer Turns 75!

In the first issue of Cancer (Figure 1) published on May 1, 1948, the Editor Dr Fred W. Stewart noted the role of the new journal to be “a publication that under a single cover will present the advances in cancer to readers with diverse interests. ” True to that commitment, the journal stands unique among oncology journals in publishing articles that cover the entire spectrum, ranging from epidemiology, prevention, translational research, therapy, and palliative care to survivorship, quality of care, health economics, disparities, clinical trials, and much more. This editorial is published on the day that marks the 75th anniversary for this storied journal. Dr Stewart also noted that: “The American Cancer Society has put its heart into the new journal. It has not stinted in its financial aid. ” The commitment of the American Cancer Society has also stayed true to this day, both in its support for the journal and in its commitment to preserving editorial independence to ensure unbiased, fair, and free discourse. The journal's growth over the decades is due in no small part to the excellence of its editors‐in‐chief over the decades, representing the best of the respective time periods and their editorial teams. The past 75 years have witnessed ground‐breaking discoveries and transformational research that have led tomajor improvements in outcomes for patients with cancer.Much of what we can offer patients today was unthinkable a mere 2 decades back! Yet the basis of today's advances can be tracked back to articles published even in the first issue of Cancer. Three articles were dedicated to electrophoretic studies of plasma proteins in patients with lymphoma, leukemia, and gastric cancer; the objective of these reports was to identify factors that distinguished patients with cancer from healthy individuals. Another article reported on the phenomenon of secondary malignancies that occur as a consequence of irradiation. Converting a tumor from treatment‐resistant to treatment‐sensitive in animal models by using chemical means was the subject of another article. Through the decades, the journal has played a major role in advancing new knowledge and contributing to the transformations in the field that have ultimately contributed to declining mortality for several cancers. Keeping up with a changing world, the journal has undergone several important changes along the way; today, Cancer is a fully digital journal, having transitioned away from the print version in 2022. Our 22 Section Editors now oversee 32 sections that reflect the wide range of topics of interest to the readership; the editorial board has likewise grown in its diversity. Over 3000 articles are received every year from authors across the world; in fact, nearly 70% of the submissions come from authors outside the United States. The journal has enhanced its ability to raise awareness of each published work by leveraging the reach of social media platforms; it is now served by two associate editors with deep expertise in social media for providing authors an even higher platform to showcase their work. Through these efforts, the altmetrics of articles submitted to Cancer continue to increase, demonstrating a growing impact on the readership and the field. The numbers of citations, downloads, social media mentions, etc., continue to grow steadily. Other significant changes that have been undertaken recently include: