AACR Introduces Cancer Prevention Research

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 05 Dec 2007 - 7:00 PDT

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In response to the growing body of research in the field of cancer prevention, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announces the launch of a major peer-reviewed scientific journal, Cancer Prevention Research, and invites submissions of papers. This important new journal is the first in the world dedicated exclusively to cancer prevention, from preclinical research to clinical trials.

"In the past, scientists and interested readers have had to parse cancer prevention articles from many other journals, unable to find the full range of prevention research and opinion in one resource," said Editor-in-Chief Scott M. Lippman, M.D., professor at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. "The richness and scope of our field now parallel those of mainstream oncology and require this new, centralized home for the wide-ranging literature that supports prevention discovery."

"The main purpose of Cancer Prevention Research is to build a translational bridge between the basic and clinical sciences in the field of cancer prevention," said Lippman. Articles will cover the preclinical and clinical work of nearly every cancer prevention discipline, from molecular biology to medical oncology, from behavioral science to surgical oncology, from nutritional science to exciting new areas such as infection- and inflammation-related cancer prevention. "Cancer Prevention Research also will serve as a forum for perspectives on key public policy issues affecting cancer prevention and will highlight the central role of cancer prevention and early detection in public health," Lippman said.

"The emphasis on linking preclinical and clinical research in prevention is unique among scientific journals. The idea to launch Cancer Prevention Research came from the basic, clinical and translational researchers who are AACR members," said AACR President William N. Hait, M.D., Ph.D. "On behalf of AACR, I thank Dr. Lippman and his outstanding team of editors and staff who have devoted their time and expertise to launching this important new vehicle for scientific discovery in a field that holds tremendous potential for saving lives."

"This new journal will join our established interdisciplinary journal, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, and our annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting as part of the AACR's comprehensive approach to cancer prevention," Hait added.

Scientific articles published in Cancer Prevention Research will fall into four primary research categories, each with a unique role in the study of cancer prevention: oncogenesis, intervention, risk assessment and early detection. Oncogenesis studies include those that cover the origins of cancer development and the cellular mechanisms that could prevent cancer growth. In addition to translational clinical studies, intervention articles will include, for example, preclinical studies on the molecular mechanisms of potential preventative agents or animal studies of new preventive drugs or nutritional interventions. According to Lippman, the field is trending strongly toward these types of preclinical studies to validate rationales before launching definitive randomized controlled clinical trials in humans.

The sections on risk assessment and early detection will include work in presymptomatic disease to prevent the clinical consequences of cancer. Through articles on leading-edge molecular biomarker research, these sections will join the identification of high cancer risk with very early detection of cancer. "These sections also will highlight the growing interface between cancer prevention and cancer therapy and the emphasis of Cancer Prevention Research on communicating discoveries that cross the gap between the basic and clinical sciences of cancer prevention," Lippman said.

This announcement coincides with the AACR's Sixth Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, being held December 5 to 8 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a scientific meeting that features the latest biological, medical and behavioral research behind cancer prevention.

Beginning in March, 2008, Cancer Prevention Research articles will be published continually online as soon as edited and will be open to anyone during the introductory phase. Regular monthly issues will begin appearing in June 2008.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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For further information, visit http://www.aacr.org/

Deputy Editors of Cancer Prevention Research are Cory Abate-Shen, Ph.D.; Powel H. Brown M.D., Ph.D.; Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D.; Ernest T. Hawk, M.D.; Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.; Thea Tlsty, Ph.D. and Janet Woodcock, M.D. Senior Editors are Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D.; Martin J. Blaser, M.D.; Andrew J. Dannenberg, M.D.; Paul F. Engstrom, M.D.; Judy E. Garber, M.D.; Jean-Pierre Issa, M.D.; Jonathan M. Kurie, M.D.; Lawrence J. Marnett, Ph.D.; Lynn M. Matrisian, Ph.D.; William G. Nelson, V, M.D., Ph.D.; Brian J. Reid, M.D., Ph.D.; David Sidransky, M.D., Ph.D.; Eva Szabo, M.D.; Mark Taketo, M.D., Ph.D.; Brent M. Vose, Ph.D. and Eileen P. White, Ph.D. Statistical Editors are J. Jack Lee, Ph.D., D.D.S. and Susan G. Hilsenbeck, Ph.D.

The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes nearly 26,000 basic, translational, and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and more than 70 other countries. AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special Conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment, and patient care. AACR publishes five major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Its most recent publication, CR, is a magazine for cancer survivors, patient advocates, their families, physicians, and scientists. It provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship, and advocacy.

Source:
Greg Lester
American Association for Cancer Research