Editing for Cure: Meet the Editors-in-Chief of Oncology Research and Treatment
In our Editing for Cure series, you will embark on a unique journey behind the scenes of Oncology Research and Treatment. Each interview in this series will introduce you to an editor or a team of editors, offering a glimpse into their professional backgrounds, their passion for clinical science, and their commitment to advancing the field through the dissemination of high-quality research.
In the first interview, we spoke with Sylvie Lorenzen and Ralf-Dieter Hofheinz, who were appointed as Editors-in-Chief of Oncology Research and Treatment in 2020.
Read the full interview here.
Photo © Sylvie Lorenzen
Prof. Dr. Sylvie Lorenzen is a hematology and oncology specialist at Klinikum rechts der Isar in Munich, Germany. She has been on the board of the Association of Internal Oncology (AIO) since 2019 and has been the spokesperson for the AIO’s gastric/esophageal cancer working group since 2017. She is a member of several specialist societies and heads the Early Clinical Trial Unit (ECTU) at the hospital. Her focus is on the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal tumors, with an emphasis on upper gastrointestinal tumors, at all stages, particularly in the context of national and international phase I–III trials. She is the principal investigator of numerous publicly and industry-funded studies as well as of her own Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs).
Photo © Ralf Hofheinz
Prof. Dr. Ralf-Dieter Hofheinz has been trained in hematology and oncology at Mannheim University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Germany. Currently, he is head of the Mannheim Cancer Center outpatient department of the University of Heidelberg. His main research focus is the (multimodal) treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, including supportive care, and patient-reported outcomes. He is active in the steering committees of the working groups of colorectal and gastroesophageal cancer of the Association of Internal Oncology (AIO). Hofheinz is the spokesman of the German Rectal Cancer Study Group (with Prof. Claus Rödel and Prof. Michael Ghadimi), of the Interdisciplinary Working Group for Visceral Oncology of the German Cancer Society (with Prof. Pompiliu Piso and Prof. Emmanouil Fokas).
As an Editor of Oncology Research and Treatment, what responsibilities and challenges do you face in ensuring the quality and relevance of published articles in the field of oncology?
Sylvie Lorenzen: As an editor of Oncology Research and Treatment, the main focus is to publish high-quality science that is of interest to our readers. Recently, we initiated Article Collections, led by Guest Editors who are experts in the respective fields, that focus on topics currently discussed in the oncological community – from gender aspects in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer to cellular immunotherapy to supportive care. These are always connected to a Call for Papers to encourage broad participation in these publications. All open Calls for Papers are listed on the journal homepage: www.karger.com/ORT.
We further launched a series of current reports with highlights from relevant international congresses, e.g., reports from young medical oncologists giving an update on highlights from recent conferences, such as ESMO. You can find the first articles here. With time we will add further contributions to the page.
In your role as Editor, have you observed any notable gaps or areas where more research is needed within the field of oncology? How can researchers and the journal collectively work towards addressing these gaps?
Ralf Hofheinz: One aspect that could be mapped more broadly in Oncology Research and Treatment is well-conducted studies on “real-world data”. Speaking for Germany, it is becoming increasingly difficult to conduct (prospective) clinical trials. They become more expensive, the formal requirements are increasingly complex, and many colleagues complain of excessive bureaucracy. This means that we will have fewer prospective studies in the future and may (have to) deal more with registry data. This realization is not only gaining ground in research. Regulatory authorities, EMA for instance, are now also discussing how and under what conditions real-world data can be used in the approval of drugs (see https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/harnessing-potential-real-world-data-through-learning-healthcare-system).
Recently, there has been a growing emphasis on patient-physician communication, e.g., how to navigate communication with seriously ill patients. How do you see this trend reflected in the submissions to Oncology Research and Treatment?
Ralf Hofheinz: Ultimately, we research and publish intending to improve not only the treatment but also the care options for our patients. This also includes concepts such as patient empowerment and shared decision-making. I believe it would be good not only to make these concepts fruitful in everyday clinical practice but also to promote research in this area. This year’s German Cancer Prize included a prize for healthcare research, in addition to the “classic” three categories (clinical, translational, and experimental cancer research). The prize was awarded on June 21, 2024, to Prof. Stephanie Stock, who has been particularly committed to the basics of optimizing care for tumor patients within the framework of new care models, including disease management programs, case management, and integrated care. In my opinion, much more research is needed in this area in particular. I believe that this should also include interprofessional research. We work as an interprofessional team with our patients, but we still conduct research separately in many aspects.
For researchers aspiring to publish in Oncology Research and Treatment, what advice do you have for them in terms of preparing and submitting their work? Are there specific criteria or tips that authors should keep in mind?
Sylvie Lorenzen: Timeliness and freshness are crucial. Submissions are more likely to be accepted if they present clinically relevant research that advances the field and is novel. One of the main questions is: “Why now?” What’s happening in the scientific community right now that makes today the perfect time to run this story in Oncology Research and Treatment? Also, keep in mind that the focus of this journal is to report clinical and translational research and that basic research is not in the scope of the journal and should be submitted elsewhere.
On a personal note…
What you are passionate about besides your work? How do you renew your energy after a challenging day?
Sylvie Lorenzen: My great passion is running – the half-marathon is my favorite discipline and there is always a competition I am preparing for. I’m very lucky to live in a perfect district in Munich Haidhausen, just a step away from the Isar River. You can find me there 5 times a week – but you have to get up very early!
Ralf Hofheinz: A large family with five children requires a lot of time but makes you realize every day what is worth living for besides work. Whenever I have time apart from family and work, I try to spend it in nature (my beloved Odenwald), or with music, be it passively in concerts or on the piano or cello. I consider music to be very valuable for renewing resources. Based on this experience, we have also been conducting projects on music (medicine) at our center for several years and hope to be able to roll these out in randomized multicenter studies in the future.
The statements and opinions contained in this interview are solely those of the speaker(s).
(Featured image declaration: by rawpixel from Freerange Stock)