Cancer Immunology Research: A Decade of Illumination and Innovation

The New Year marks the beginning of a milestone year for Cancer Immunology Research as the journal turns 10 in 2023. Since the inaugural print issue of Cancer Immunology Research, in July 2013, the field of cancer immunology has grown at a breathtaking pace, and we are optimistic that there are even greater advances to come in the next 10 years.The Journal was launched at a time when it was becoming increasingly clear that modulating the immune system had the potential to yield remarkable responses for some patients with cancer refractory to all other treatments. The first immune checkpoint inhibitor, the CTLA4-specific mAb ipilimumab, had been recently approved by the FDA for treating metastatic melanoma and numerous other promising immunotherapeutics were in clinical development. In the intervening years, immunotherapy has become a new pillar of cancer care. Paving the way for this shift in cancer treatment paradigms was the FDA approval of nine additional immune checkpoint inhibitors, six chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, and the first T-cell receptor (TCR)–based therapy.Alongside the groundbreaking clinical advances that have occurred over the past decade has been a wave of scientific and technological innovations that are providing invaluable new understanding of the complex interplay of cancer and the immune system. Among these discoveries are some that are enhancing appreciation of the roles of nonimmune components, such as the host microbiota and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, on the cancer–immunity cycle. It is this rapidly deepening knowledge of all facets of host–tumor interactions that will lead to new approaches to harnessing the immune system for the treatment of cancer.The evolution of Cancer Immunology Research over the past decade has mirrored that of the field of cancer immunology. From 2013 to 2018, our most highly cited original research articles provided new insights into issues directly pertaining to the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors or CAR T-cell therapies. In the past 4 years, the most highly cited original articles have focused on the broader characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment, including its suppressive components, and on identifying nonimmune factors that impact antitumor immunity.As Editors-in-Chief of Cancer Immunology Research it has been incredibly exciting to foster the growth of both the journal and the field of cancer immunology. At the outset, Cancer Immunology Research was committed to playing a leading role in educating the greater cancer research community regarding the principles and opportunities in cancer immunology. This educational mission, which stemmed from the fact that immunology was only just entering the mainstream of cancer science, has been highly effective. Basic, translational, and clinical cancer immunology research is now a thriving component of the entire cancer research ecosystem, as highlighted by the increasing number of scientific conferences, presentations, and publications dedicated to the subject. The parallel growth of the journal is evidenced by the fact that the number of original research articles submitted to the Journal more than quadrupled between 2014 and 2021 and the Impact Factor, while an imperfect measure of journal quality, more than tripled.The successful first decade of Cancer Immunology Research is the result of the hard work of many individuals, including those who serve as Deputy and Senior Editors and members of the Editorial Board, as well as the authors and readers who have helped ensure the journal is a definitive resource in the field. Importantly, we also acknowledge the immense time and effort of all the reviewers who appraised manuscripts during the past 10 years. The quality of the Journal can be attributed in large measure to the careful analysis, critique, and constructive recommendations they provided.Notwithstanding the major strides that have been made in cancer immunology science and medicine, there is still a lot to learn and a large proportion of patients with cancer for whom immunotherapy is not an option or provides little benefit. We believe that the cancer immunology community will rise to the challenges and that the next decade will be filled with more landmark discoveries that further transform our understanding of tumor biology and immunology and further revolutionize patient care.Cancer Immunology Research is steadfastly committed to evolving with the field while maintaining the principle held by the Journal since it was founded to publish original research articles that move the field forward, by creating new knowledge, revealing new mechanisms, advancing our understanding of cancer immunology and cancer biology, and/or providing novel clinical insights. Moving forward, we want to ensure that Cancer Immunology Research continues to provide a forum for innovative research across the spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical cancer immunology, including for articles reporting cutting-edge advances in cancer immunotherapy and for scientifically, experimentally, and statistically rigorous datasets that provide a demonstrable resource for the community.As we look to the future, we remain passionate about continuing to support the needs of everyone in the cancer immunology community. As a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cancer Immunology Research is a society journal for all cancer immunologists, cancer biologists, and clinical investigators, no matter their age, race, ethnicity, gender, or place of work. Please let us know how the Journal can better support your needs in the coming months and years (e-mail us at cancerimmunolres@aacr.org).We could not be prouder of all that Cancer Immunology Research has accomplished in the past 10 years, as you will see in an accompanying video conversation that we had (https://AACR.org/CIR10), and look forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Journal with you throughout the year. We are also excited for an even brighter future and are dedicated to ensuring that Cancer Immunology Research continues to support advancement in this rich and vibrant field.