Annals of Oncology: factors for making a real impact
Authors: F. André
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2017)

It is a great honor to have been nominated interim Editor in Chief of Annals of Oncology and to succeed Professor Jean-Charles Soria [1.Soria J.C. Annals of Oncology: un bon travail.Ann Oncol. 2017; 28: 2337-2339Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar]. Professor Soria, the Editorial Team, and ESMO have made impact factor (IF) a key priority for the development of Annals. The aim was to use the IF, a tool that is easy to monitor, as a metric for quality. Under his leadership, the IF has risen to 11.8, and, as a consequence, the quality of papers submitted to the journal has dramatically increased [2.Soria J.C. New goals.Ann Oncol. 2016; 27: 1655-1656Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar]. We will continue to have IF as one of our main metrics to evaluate the success of the journal, with the aim to consolidate and make sustainable what has been achieved so far. In addition, another goal will be to increase the influence of the journal, which can be monitored using Altmetrics scoring. In order to maintain the success already achieved and to reach our new goals, we will fine tune the current Editorial policy. First, in addition to giving priority to prospective clinical trials, Annals will prioritize publication of innovative ancillary studies coming from practice changing randomized trials. Two groups of ancillary studies are usually reported. The first group are studies on the secondary end points of prospective trials. These studies are key to evaluate the value of medicines and include overall survival and patient-reported outcomes. As an example, Annals published the overall survival impact of everolimus in hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer [3.Piccart M. Hortobagyi G.N. Campone M. et al.Everolimus plus exemestane for hormone-receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative advanced breast cancer: overall survival results from BOLERO-2.Ann Oncol. 2014; 25: 2357-2362Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (396) Google Scholar]. The second group are large biomarker studies generated from material collected during practice changing trials. These are keys to shape the future of medicine and to improve knowledge of the disease, as exemplified in the paper from Dr Loi and colleagues that showed tumor infiltration by lymphocytes can predict outcome and efficacy of trastuzumab in early-breast cancer [4.Loi S. Michiels S. Salgado R. et al.Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes are prognostic in triple negative breast cancer and predictive for trastuzumab benefit in early breast cancer: results from the FinHER trial.Ann Oncol. 2014; 25: 1544-1550Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (906) Google Scholar]. Second, we will prioritize publications of landmark papers that help doctors to optimize their practice or that define new entities. In this regard, publication of ESMO guidelines is a key driver of the success of Annals of Oncology, and the Editorial Board will collaborate with the ESMO Guideline Committee to further improve the reporting of this ESMO activity. Publications of consensus papers are also a major topic in Annals of Oncology. Beside the clinical consensus papers, such as the St. Gallen consensus reports, Annals will aim to report consensus papers that are more focused and technical. An example of such a paper can be seen with the highly cited 2015 publication of a consensus to evaluate lymphocytic infiltration in breast tumors [5.Salgado R. Denkert C. Demaria S. et al.The evaluation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer: recommendations by an International TILs Working Group 2014.Ann Oncol. 2015; 26: 259-271Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1630) Google Scholar]. Third, Annals will be willing to publish studies that aim at implementing and testing values of innovative technologies, including digital tools. New technologies are dramatically changing the face of medicine, but their evaluation is a matter of controversy. By publishing technology-oriented studies, the Editorial Board aims to narrow the gap that exists between development of new technologies and their implementation in medical practice. Fourth, Annals has been very successful at publishing large epidemiology studies, and we will be willing to continue this effort. In this section, we will prioritize large epidemiology studies that report incidence, mortality and risk factors. Considering the general readership of the journal, it is the wish of the Editorial Board to continue publishing articles on all types of cancers. This allows an optimal cross-fertilization between disease areas. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge the contribution of immunology and translational medicine to the recent evolution of oncology, and papers in these fields will be prioritized. Finally, an additional goal will be to dramatically increase the number of letters, views and perspectives that are published in order for Annals to become a forum for discussion not only of data, but also the implications of new data in oncology. In this section, specific attention will be made to outlier cases that could improve the knowledge of a disease or a drug. In conclusion, the new interim Editorial Board will continue the strategy previously developed, with the aim to make Annals of Oncology a key influential journal in oncology and a resource that oncologists will use to optimize their practice. None declared.