To mark the 35th anniversary of Annals of Oncology, this interview features Prof. Franco Cavalli, the founding Editor-in-Chief, who led the journal from its inception in 1989 until 2000.
Prof. Cavalli reflects on the state of oncology when the journal was established, the vision that drove its creation, and the challenges faced in those formative years. He shares insights on the strategies that helped build the journal’s reputation and its role in advancing the field. Prof. Cavalli also highlights key milestones and offers his perspective on the journal’s enduring legacy in oncology research.
How was oncology when Annals of Oncology was founded, and what gaps did the journal aim to fill?
The decision to launch Annals of Oncology was made in 1989. Although the 1980s had seen significant achievements (such as Adriamycin, Cisplatin, and early adjuvant therapies), progress in medical oncology had largely plateaued by that time. Major breakthroughs, including monoclonal antibodies and targeted therapies, would not emerge for another deca were still a decade away de. I felt it was essential to foster greater scientific collaboration and encourage more innovative clinical trials. At the time, the European Journal of Cancer, the leading journal in the field, was facing a crisis: while ESMO was approached to potentially appoint the Editor-in-Chief, the publisher declined to transfer ownership. As a result, ESMO opted to launch its own journal, inspired by the experience and success of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) , which was owned by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
What inspired you to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief, and what were your initial goals for the journal?
I already had some experience as the editor of the Swiss Cancer Bulletin and had organised the first ESMO congress outside France in Lugano in 1988. I had also established a small ESMO secretariat in Lugano. The main reason I took on this challenge was that the other members of the ESMO Board were more hesitant than I was about accepting it.
What challenges did you encounter in the early years of the journal, and how were they addressed?
The main challenge was ensuring a steady flow of high-quality articles for publication. Researchers typically submit their most significant work to journals with a high impact factor, as this is crucial for advancing their careers. Naturally, we started with an impact factor of zero. However, thanks to the Lugano Lymphoma Conference and my involvement with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), I had extensive contacts across Europe. This required a great deal of diplomacy to persuade investigators to submit their work to us.
To speed us the review process, I formed a working group with my close colleagues, allowing us to assess the relevance of submitted papers within a few days—something other journals struggled to achieve. To further enhance interest in Annals of Oncology, I introduced a section at the beginning of each issue titled “News from the World of Oncology.” featuring 2-3 articles with updates presented in a journalistic and engaging style, sometimes even including a bit of gossip. This helped us overcome those early challenges.
How did you envision the journal contributing to the advancement of oncology in its early years?
We had a clear policy: to publish interesting data of phase I and II studies as quickly as possible, to commission comprehensive reviews from prominent figures in the field, and to focus on proposing new methodologies for clinical trials. , We also aimed to publish (at minimal cost), the proceedings of noteworthy international congresses, starting with the Lugano Lymphoma conference.
What legacy do you believe Annals of Oncology has established in the field?
Just look at the impact factor and circulation of Annals of Oncology today. In my view, it has undoubtedly become the leading European journal in the field of oncology. This is further evidenced by the fact that Annals of Oncology now attracts high-quality submissions from around the world, including the United States.