Current Oncology | Interview with Editorial Board Member Dr. Costantino Errani

In this issue, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Costantino Errani, who is the member of Current Oncology’s Editorial Board. Dr. Errani joined the Editorial Board of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729) in 2021. At present, as an Editorial Board Member, he actively contributes to the journal’s editorial activities and ensures the scientific rigor and quality of published manuscripts. Here, he will share his peer review experience, research interests, and academic journey.

Dr. Costantino Errani is an orthopaedic surgeon at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute (Bologna, Italy). He is a dedicated surgeon specializing in the treatment and care of children and adults with bone and soft tissue tumors. His expertise encompasses treatment of patients with a range of rare primary musculoskeletal tumors, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma, as well as patients with metastatic bone diseases, with expertise in limb-salvage surgery and complex biological and prosthetic reconstructions following tumor resection. He received his medical degree from the University of Bologna and completed his residency in Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute and subsequently earned a PhD in Oncology and Pathology, focusing on the molecular biology and genetic profiling of sarcomas. To further advance his expertise in musculoskeletal oncology, he underwent advanced clinical and research training at internationally renowned institutions, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, USA), Mayo Clinic (Rochester, USA), and Karolinska Hospital (Stockholm, Sweden). Dr. Errani’s research interests include musculoskeletal oncology, sarcoma biology, skeletal metastases, prognostic biomarkers, and innovative reconstructive techniques following tumor surgery. He has served as Principal Investigator in numerous national and international clinical studies and has played a key role in developing multidisciplinary treatment pathways for patients with uncommon tumors and metastatic bone disease. His scientific contributions have significantly advanced the understanding of biology, prognosis, and surgical management of bone and soft tissue tumors. His surgical expertise includes a variety of complex limb-salvage techniques, using biologic, prosthetic, custom-designed implants, and advanced 3D technology. These strategies aim to optimize survival and restore patients to their highest level of function after surgery. An internationally recognized authority in orthopaedic oncology, Dr. Errani has performed more than 3000 surgical procedures, authored over 170 PubMed-indexed peer-reviewed publications, contributed to several book chapters, and delivered invited lectures at major international scientific meetings across Europe, North America, and Asia. He currently serves on the editorial boards of several international journals, including serving as Deputy Editor of the European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, and Associate Editor of BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders and Current Oncology.

The following is a short Q&A with Dr. Costantino Errani:

1. Could you briefly introduce your current research focus and any key projects you are working on?
I am an orthopaedic surgeon dedicated to the treatment of children and adults who have bone or soft tissue tumors located in the extremities, pelvis, and sacrum. My research involves understanding the molecular biology and the genetic profile of sarcomas and improving the durability and function of joint replacements.

2. You have been working on the Editorial Board of Current Oncology since 2021. How has your experience working with the journal been since then?
My experience as an editor at Current Oncology has been a pleasant surprise, as I have grown as an editor alongside the journal, which I have seen grow both in the number of articles submitted and in the quality of those articles.

3. As an academic editor, what aspects do you prioritize most when evaluating manuscripts? What advice would you give to authors preparing to submit their work to Current Oncology?
The priority is the novelty of the study’s topic, which should address a clinical question that no one has yet answered—an open question. Therefore, I advise authors to always ask themselves what their study adds to those published so far.

4. You are currently editing the Current Oncology Special Issue, “Advances in Surgical Treatment of Children with Bone Tumors”. From your perspective as a Guest Editor, what potential value do you think this Special Issue can bring to oncology research and clinical practice?
Studies should always be driven by a clinical need, and the surgical treatment of rare diseases such as pediatric sarcomas requires determining which treatments are most effective and how we can improve existing treatments by reducing short- and long-term complications.

5. As both an author and a member of the Editorial Board, do you have any suggestions or expectations for the journal’s future development?
My suggestion—and also my expectation—is that Current Oncology will increasingly strive in the near future to raise the quality of its articles by giving priority to those that address an unresolved clinical question using appropriate methodology.

6. Current Oncology is an open access journal. What impact do you think open access publishing has on your field?
Open access journals are certainly useful because they allow everyone—even those who cannot afford it—to stay up to date on scientific developments, and they also make researchers’ work more visible.

7. Finally, what is one piece of advice you would give to early career researchers?
Read scientific articles, study constantly, and continue clinical practice, or, if you are a basic researcher, find a clinician to collaborate with on research, since research usually stems from a clinical question posed by a patient that no one has yet answered.

We sincerely thank Dr. Errani for sharing his insights and perspectives with us. We greatly value the contributions of our Editorial Board Members to the continued development of Current Oncology and the advancement of high-quality oncology research. We hope this interview will provide valuable insights and inspiration to the oncology community.