Hormones impact all aspects of cancer biology, from its earliest stages of development to its full progression towards malignancy. Hormonal intervention is a keystone of cancer prevention and treatment, and altered hormone sensitivity of cancer cells is a hallmark of cancer and a mechanism of chemo-resistance. As such, the field of hormones and cancer is highly relevant to human health, but we still have a lot to learn. The founding editor of Hormones and Cancer, Jonathan Li, had the vision of formalizing this discipline as a combined focus by creating a publication home for high-quality papers on translational research in hormone-associated cancers. Under his leadership, the journal made important strides and met key milestones, including acceptance into the Thomson Reuters ISI database (April 2011), inclusion in the PubMed Database (July 2011), and free online access for members of The Endocrine Society (http://www.endo-society.org/journals/hormones_cancer.cfm). As the incoming editor-in-chief of Hormones and Cancer, I am honored to continue Dr. Li’s legacy and delighted to serve The Endocrine Society and Springer as an advocate for our field.

As in the past, Hormones and Cancer will remain committed to spanning basic, translational, and clinical research focus areas as a major priority. We are perhaps unique from other cancer or endocrine journals in this regard, and it is a clear strength of Hormones and Cancer. Importantly, the journal will retain its original strong presence in breast and gynecologic cancers in women and prostate cancer in men, and will continue to include and solicit studies on hormonally influenced cancers of endocrine glands such as adrenal, pituitary, and thyroid organs. Notably, hormones are emerging as important regulators of a broad range of non-traditional (as hormone-driven) tumor types, including cancers of the lung, colon, and hematopoietic tissues. Additionally, it is becoming clear that selected cancer-like (benign) illnesses are highly relevant to the field of hormones and cancer. For example, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is a progressive cystic lung disease that predominantly affects young women; a high percentage (~30%) of women with the tumor suppressor syndrome known as tuberous sclerosis complex develop pulmonary changes consistent with LAM and sporatic forms of the disease exist that are known to involve cancer-associated (invasive and metastatic) mechanisms. Other syndromes of benign and malignant smooth muscle can mimic LAM (benign-metastasizing leiomyoma, endometrial stromal sarcomas, and low-grade leiomyosarcomas). Inclusion of research articles from groups focused on understanding these cancer-related illnesses will surely add depth to Hormones and Cancer by expanding our knowledge and complementing our existing readership.

Other new additions to Hormones and Cancer include our updated cover design, by The Endocrine Society’s Production Manager, Cynthia Richardson. We hope that readers will find the cover to be both artful and engaging, and reflective of the quality of our content. These are exciting times; new discoveries continue to energize our basic and clinical research community. Going forward, it will be important to engage the full spectrum of hormones and cancer-related research within the journal with the goal of defining a home forum for high-impact work that increases our understanding of how hormonally driven events shape cancer development, progression, and treatment. This is critical for the science in the field, and for defining the field for our scientists, clinicians, patients, and funding agencies. In sum, I look forward to taking on my new duties as editor-in-chief and I invite you to advocate for our field by submitting your best work to Hormones and Cancer and by recommending the journal to your trainees and colleagues.

Sincerely,

Carol A. Lange, PhD

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