Onco: A Promising Player Amidst Oncology Journals

As the new Editor-in-Chief of the journal, I believe that I must continue the efforts of my predecessor even more actively and with greater enthusiasm and dedication so that the journal becomes a pole of attraction for the publication of excellent studies of basic, translational and clinical research for the treatment of cancer. It will be equally important to focus on the publication of clinical studies for targeted cancer therapies in the context of precision oncology. Of course, cancer treatment is an expanding and evolving field whereby immunotherapy has made an enormous impact. By paying attention to the advancements made so far in the field, we may conclude that immune-oriented treatments of cancer are mostly based on the knowledge we obtain from exploring mechanisms of immune resistance utilized by the tumor cells. The scientific field of immuno-oncology is quite complex and multidisciplinary given that in the tumor microenvironment, but also in the periphery, there is an abundance of factors that can influence the endogenous antitumor immune response which, as we learned in the early 2000s, constitutes the cornerstone for the outcome not only of immunotherapy but also of other anticancer treatments. Given that cancer heterogeneity consists of tumor clones employing various resistance mechanisms, along with the fact that immune surveillance within the tumor microenvironment can be influenced variously, it is reasonable to propose that exploring the most effective targeted treatments could be the most appropriate modality for cancer management. As a next step, these effective targeted therapies combined with established immunotherapies (or other cancer therapies) may provide robust and durable clinical benefits for patients. Targeting tumor cell metabolism and tumor cell cycle, gut microbiota, angiogenesis, apoptosis-inducing pathways and oncogenic signal transduction could represent some selected targeted cancer therapies. However, whatever the therapeutic protocol may be, we should always keep in mind that this should be safe and applicable to the majority of patients and cancer types. I sincerely hope that the Onco journal will showcase cutting-edge research papers and reviews paving the way to accomplish this aspiring goal. I am confident that my successful collaboration with the Managing Editor and the Editorial Board Members will contribute to the upward trajectory of the Onco journal via the submission of manuscripts from reputed research centers, oncology clinics, universities and industries. We encourage you to submit your work (research manuscripts, reviews, editorials, communications, etc.) for reviewing and publication. We can ensure that by publishing in the Onco journal, you will be a part of the research progress and clinical improvements in cancer.