A Theme Issue on Cancer

Abstract

CANCER IS PERHAPS THE MOST DREADED DIAGNOSIS for patients, the most concerning for their families, and at times, the most challenging for physicians. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, estimated to account for nearly 7 million deaths annually. In 2008, an estimated 12 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed and an estimated 25 million persons were alive with cancer. In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death, with approximately 270 000 cancer deaths among US women and 292 000 cancer deaths among US men projected to occur in 2009. The lifetime risk of developing cancer (excluding basal/ squamous skin cancers and some in situ cancers) is estimated at approximately 1 in 3 for US women and 1 in 2 for US men. In addition, many cancers are associated with significant morbidity, often taking a devastating toll on physical functioning, quality of life, and emotional wellbeing. Physicians in all specialties of medicine encounter and care for patients with cancer. Physicians who specialize in cancer therapy, such as hematologist/oncologists, surgical oncologists, and radiation oncologists continue to search for ways to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment while minimizing the potentially serious adverse effects. To focus attention of the medical community on novel research discoveries and to provide clinicians with new information on cancer care, JAMA will publish a theme issue devoted to cancer, and nearly all of the Archives Journals will participate by publishing theme issues or devoting pages to this topic, all in March 2010. Authors are invited to submit manuscripts on any topic relevant to the issue of cancer biology, etiology, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Rigorously conducted original research studies, especially multicenter randomized clinical trials that present new findings on cancer treatment and novel therapeutic approaches for common cancers, will receive highest priority. Cutting-edge studies exploring the genetic, genomic, and biomolecular aspects of cancer, as well as papers describing findings from basic science and translational research investigations that provide novel insights about cancer biology, mechanisms, and pathophysiology, will receive careful consideration. Highquality research that presents new, solid data relevant to improving cancer prevention efforts, optimizing cancer screening strategies, and enhancing understanding of the functional and psychosocial consequences of cancer treatment are also of interest. Evidence-based manuscripts on other important relevant topics are also welcome. These include, but are not limited to, genomic predictors of response to therapy and surrogate markers of response in the era of targeted therapies; diagnosis and treatment of cancer in developing countries; delivery models for cancer care, such as comparison of care provided in the physician office vs the hospital; effective nurse staffing models for community-based cancer centers; and the implications of health system reform efforts for the delivery and financing of comprehensive cancer prevention and treatment strategies. We look forward to receiving manuscripts—including original research, systematic reviews, and scholarly commentaries—for consideration for this theme issue on cancer. Authors are encouraged to consult the Instructions for Authors for guidelines on manuscript preparation and submission. All submitted manuscripts will undergo JAMA’s usual rigorous editorial evaluation and review. High-quality papers not accepted for publication in JAMA may be referred (with the authors’ permission) to one of the Archives Journals for further consideration. Manuscripts received by October 1, 2009, will have the best chance of consideration for inclusion in the JAMA theme issue on cancer.