Celebrating 60 Years of the International Journal of Cancer

On 15 January 2026, the International Journal of Cancer (IJC) marks sixty years since the publication of its very first issue on 15 January 1966. Established by UICC, the journal has grown into one of the world’s leading publications for disseminating high quality research in cancer science.

Its creation in 1966 formed part of UICC’s long-standing commitment to advancing global cancer research, following earlier scientific initiatives such as the development of the TNM Classification system for staging cancer.

Since its launch, IJC has remained a cornerstone of UICC’s scientific mission, evolving alongside major developments in oncology. The journal is published by Wiley on behalf of UICC and has consistently upheld rigorous peer review standards. Its scope spans experimental and clinical cancer research, providing a home for original research articles, review papers, short reports, minireviews, and letters to the editor. Today, IJC is published biweekly and continues to be edited by a distinguished international editorial team.

“I am honored to be Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Cancer, a world-leading scientific journal publishing high-quality articles on all aspects of cancer research. Over the last few decades, the journal has published groundbreaking contributions in the fields of epidemiology, virology, immunology and molecular genetics, as well as translational clinical work.”
– Prof. Dr Christoph Plass, Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Cancer.

Central to this impact is the IJC’s longstanding commitment to scientific rigor and research integrity. The IJC is a pioneer in cell line authentication, which means the journal carefully checks that all human cells used in studies are genuine and not contaminated or misidentified.

Since 2010, the journal requires authors to properly authenticate all human cell lines used in a manuscript at the time of submission. These materials undergo rigorous review to ensure the authenticity of all human cell lines used. To this day, the IJC maintains the most stringent cell line policy.

“The International Journal of Cancer reflects UICC's longstanding investment in scientific excellence, grounding our work in robust evidence and serving as a vital bridge between research and action.”
– Dr Sonali Johnson, Head of Knowledge, Advocacy, and Policy, UICC 

Over the past six decades, IJC has contributed significantly to shaping how cancer is understood and addressed globally. The journal has played a vital role in circulating groundbreaking findings from laboratories and cancer registries worldwide, efforts that align closely with UICC’s mission to strengthen collaboration, drive innovation, and improve cancer control outcomes for all populations. Seminal papers include Denis Burkitt's 1970 paper on understanding infection-associated carcinogenesis, as well as Ferley and colleagues' papers on cancer statistics and the global burden.

"IJC has a global influence, attracting submissions from leading researchers and fostering international collaboration. This is a team achievement, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank and recognise the fantastic leadership of Editor-in-Chief Professor Christoph Plass, as well as the hard work and dedication of the journal’s editorial team and managing office. Looking ahead, we remain committed to supporting the oncology community and driving progress in cancer research and care through our valued publishing partnership with UICC."
– Martin Vinding, Wiley Senior Director, Partner Publishing