UICC’s International Journal of Cancer celebrates 60 years with an anniversary collection of landmark papers
IJC is providing free access to a curated collection of influential studies – from early discoveries in viral carcinogenesis and DNA methylation to modern genomic profiling and screening methods – that have significantly shaped global cancer research, prevention, and policy, since the journal was created 60 years ago.
To highlight its anniversary, UICC’s International Journal of Cancer (IJC) has released a new collection highlighting six decades of influential research that has shaped our understanding of cancer development, prevention, diagnosis, and management. This curated selection revisits seminal publications that have set new directions in areas such as infection‑related cancers, genetic mechanisms, screening approaches, molecular pathways, and cancer surveillance.
Established by the UICC in 1966, the journal has grown to become one of the world’s leading publications for disseminating high-quality cancer research science. This new online anniversary collection sheds light on the history of IJC through specific scientific contributions spanning early discoveries on viral carcinogenesis in the 1970s to recent work on minimally invasive diagnostics and precision oncology.
These landmark papers have been selected for the clarity of their findings at the time of publication, their subsequent research influence, or their foundational role in themes that continue to inform cancer control worldwide.
The collection begins with pioneering work that illustrated how biochemical processes underpin cancer development. A 1966 study examined resistance to 5‑azacytidine in a mouse model contributing to the early exploration of DNA methylation. Meanwhile, research on hypomethylating agents has supported the development of treatments now used to treat acute myeloid leukaemia.
Another area of early research revisited in the collection is the multistage model of carcinogenesis. In a 1971 epidemiological analysis, data from the Finnish Cancer Registry was used to assess how age-specific incidence patterns aligned with theories proposed by Nordling, Armitage, and Doll. By empirically testing these models across several cancers, the work helped to shape thinking around mutational “hits” in cancer development, a concept that remains fundamental to cancer biology.
Several selected papers document early insights into infection-associated cancers. For instance, a 1970 publication on Burkitt lymphoma and malaria provided evidence of the complex interaction between infection and cancer risk. Another study, from 1974, investigated the presence of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA and EBV‑determined nuclear antigen in Burkitt lymphoma and other lymphoproliferative tumours, shedding light on the virological basis of certain malignancies.
The collection also includes an early contribution to the understanding of human papillomavirus (HPV). A 1980 paperthat partially characterised viral DNA in genital warts helped lay the groundwork for later advances in HPV molecular biology. This forms part of a broader theme in the selected papers, with HPV emerging repeatedly in studies that helped establish its role in cervical cancer.
For instance, a 1992 population-based case‑control study in Colombia and Spain was central to demonstrating the causal link between HPV and invasive cervical cancer. A 2001 study showed that high levels‑ of a protein called p16 can indicate when HPV has altered a cell. This insight has since been widely referenced in research.
Genetic alterations, screening, equity, and public health
As the molecular era progressed, the IJC captured several initial findings on genetic alterations in cancer. Included for its relevance to ongoing inquiry into sex-related differences in cancer outcomes is a 1993 paper on loss and rearrangement of the Y chromosome in non-small-cell lung cancer. Another selected study, published in 1996, identified two distinct immunohistochemical patterns of p53 in skin cancers, providing evidence that p53 mutation occurs early in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Alongside basic and translational science, the anniversary selection highlights influential work in public health and screening.
The first GLOBOCAN estimates, published in 2001, were a significant milestone inglobal cancer surveillance, providing standardised estimates of the global cancer burden which continue to guide research and policy.
A 2007 comparison of colorectal cancer screening initiatives across 17 countries offered an early international overview of screening implementation.
In 2008, consensus guidance defined validation requirements for HPV DNA tests intended for primary cervical screening in women aged 30 years and older, contributing to the development of consistent testing standards.
The IJC’s engagement with research relevant to low‑ and middle‑income countries is illustrated by a 2020 study on an oesophageal sponge sampling method, which was developed through collaboration between researchers in Tanzania, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and institutions in the United Kingdom. This minimally invasive technique offers a feasible and cost-effective approach to the early detection of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in areas where endoscopy is limited.
More recent additions to the collection reflect the diversity of contemporary cancer research. In 2025, a study explored two different theories about how cancer cells change over time. Large sets of genetic data were used to compare the models and help clarify an ongoing scientific discussion.
Also from 2025, an open access study on comprehensive genomic profiling in metastatic breast cancer includes findings from the Coordinated Approach To Child Health (CATCH), a programme that uses comprehensive genomic testing to guide treatment decisions for individuals with metastatic breast cancer, contributing to the growing evidence base for precision oncology.
Readers can explore the full anniversary collection on the IJC website and revisit the earlier overview of the journal’s history and mission which was published by UICC to mark the 60th anniversary.
Last update
Wednesday 11 March 2026
