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A word in your ear: the 2004 Annals of Oncology prizes

2004; Elsevier BV; Volume: 15; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/annonc/mdh364

1569-8041

David Kerr,

Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the English word genome is derived from the German Genom, first used by the cytogeneticist Hans Winkler in 1920 to describe the haploid chromosome set of an organism. Notably, the word Genom was derived, by analogy, from Mitom, coined by cytologist Walther Flemming in 1882 to describe the reticular structures of the cell collectively. Next to these old-timers, the proteome is a neonate, younger even than that other baby, the World Wide Web, having been first used by Wasinger et al. in the journal Electrophoresis in 1995 [1.Wasinger V.C. Cordwell S.J. Cerpa-Poljak A. et al.Progress with gene-product mapping of the Mollicutes: Mycoplasma genitalium.Electrophoresis. 1995; 16: 1090-1094Crossref PubMed Scopus (808) Google Scholar]. As will be apparent to anyone with more than a cursory knowledge of the recent literature, there has been, since then, something of an –ome explosion, with the glycome, the metabolome and, a favourite of mine, the biobibliome all having emerged in the last 5 years.Literature searching by means of biobliometrics [2.Stapley B.J. Benoit G. Biobibliometrics: information retrieval and visualization from co-occurrences of gene names in Medline abstracts.Pac Symp Biocomput. 2000; : 529-540PubMed Google Scholar] is particularly appealing to me, as a scientist and journal editor, since the aim is not to identify previously unread but relevant articles (no small thing to be sure), but to identify previously unknown gene associations simply by assessing the patterns of gene names used in Medline documents. Successful science must surely, in part, be about such innovative use of existing knowledge and resources.Of course, much of what I and my colleagues among the editors of Annals of Oncology do, is try to identify that successful science and ensure that it gets into the literature in the first place. First impressions, as I have said before [3.Kerr D.J. Pride and judgement: the Annals of Oncology prizes.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 817-818Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar], play a fundamental part in this process. On that previous occasion I introduced the 2002 Annals of Oncology prizes and considered those first impressions with a certain pride. Now, 2 years on, I again find myself introducing those prizes and, similarly, am able to reflect on the high quality of work received by the Annals and the high quality of the advice I receive about what should go into the journal. Choosing just a few articles among the several hundred we have published over the last 2 years (in volumes 13 and 14) has been a difficult task but a rewarding one.Our aim then has been to reward and recognise those researchers who support the journal and strive, with us, to achieve excellence. Like our monthly routine task of selecting articles, only more so, the prizes are an attempt to recognise the best published articles in the categories of translational science, phase I, phase II and phase III studies. Our decisions (the judging has been by an editorial subcommittee) consider the areas of innovation, scientific quality and potential impact on the field, the pillars upon which Annals of Oncology is founded. Generous to a fault, we are backing up these judgements with cash prizes, with the author of the prizewinning article in each category receiving EUR 1000.Yet the simplest way for me to explain what I am on about will be to introduce the articles.Annals of Oncology Prize for translational science"Cooperative inhibitory effect of ZD1839 (Iressa) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) on human breast cancer cell growth", by Normanno et al. [4.Normanno N. Campiglio M. De Luca A. et al.Cooperative inhibitory effect of ZD1839 (Iressa) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) on human breast cancer cell growth.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 65-72Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (264) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions in this category go to:"Quantitative measurement of BCR/abl transcripts using real-time polymerase chain reaction", by Lee et al. [5.Lee W.-I. Kantarjian H. Glassman A. et al.Quantitative measurement of BCR/abl transcripts using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 781-788Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar]; and to"Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with chemotherapy resistance and outcome in ovarian cancer patients", by Ferrandina et al. [6.Ferrandina G. Lauriola L. Zannoni G.F. et al.Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with chemotherapy resistance and outcome in ovarian cancer patients.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1205-1211Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (151) Google Scholar].Annals of Oncology Prize for phase I studies"A pilot trial of G3139, a bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, and paclitaxel in patients with chemorefractory small-cell lung cancer", by Rudin et al. [7.Rudin C.M. Otterson G.M. Mauer A.M. et al.A pilot trial of G3139, a bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, and paclitaxel in patients with chemorefractory small-cell lung cancer.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 539-545Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (147) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions in this category go to:"Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of CCI-779, a novel cytostatic cell-cycle inhibitor, in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced solid tumors", by Punt et al. [8.Punt C.J.A. Boni J. Bruntsch U. et al.Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of CCI-779, a novel cytostatic cell-cycle inhibitor, in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced solid tumors.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 931-937Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (114) Google Scholar]; and to"Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of the selective oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) in Japanese patients with solid malignant tumors", by Nakagawa et al. [9.Nakagawa K. Tamura T. Negoro S. et al.Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of the selective oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) in Japanese patients with solid malignant tumors.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 922-930Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (254) Google Scholar].Annals of Oncology Prize for phase II studies"Phase II trial of thalidomide in renal-cell carcinoma", by Escudier et al. [10.Escudier B. Lassau N. Couanet D. et al.Phase II trial of thalidomide in renal-cell carcinoma.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1029-1035Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (106) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions must also go to:"A phase II trial of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor SCH 66336, given by twice-daily oral administration, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan", by Sharma et al. [11.Sharma S. Kemeny N. Kelsen D.P. et al.A phase II trial of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor SCH 66336, given by twice-daily oral administration, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1067-1071Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar]; and to"Neovastat (AE-941) in refractory renal cell carcinoma patients: report of a phase II trial with two dose levels", by Batist et al. [12.Batist G. Patenaude F. Champagne P. et al.Neovastat (Æ-941) in refractory renal cell carcinoma patients: report of a phase II trial with two dose levels.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1259-1263Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (99) Google Scholar].Annals of Oncology Prize for phase III studies"Phase III randomised trial comparing paclitaxel/carboplatin with paclitaxel/cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a cooperative multinational trial", by Rosell et al. [13.Rosell R. Gatzemeier U. Betticher D.C. et al.Phase III randomised trial comparing paclitaxel/carboplatin with paclitaxel/cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a cooperative multinational trial.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1539-1549Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (269) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions go to:"Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases", by Body et al. [14.Body J.-J. Diel I.J. Lichinitser M.R. et al.Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 1399-1405Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (369) Google Scholar]; and to"Prospective randomized comparison of vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) administered as intravenous bolus injection and VAD with liposomal doxorubicin as first-line treatment in multiple myeloma", by Dimopoulos et al. [15.Dimopoulos M.A. Pouli A. Zervas K. et al.Prospective randomized comparison of vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) administered as intravenous bolus injection and VAD with liposomal doxorubicin as first-line treatment in multiple myeloma.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 1039-1044Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (65) Google Scholar].Knowledge is power, or so said Sir Francis Bacon. I believe that these articles have added to both our knowledge and our power. Certainly I thank all those authors and, indeed, all those who continue to send their manuscripts to Annals of Oncology. Keep up the good work.So, clearly, I am still very proud of Annals, the work we receive and the work we do. And long may it remain so. Should you have an important manuscript on your desk right now, I hope that you will give serious consideration to sending it to us.See you in 2006. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the English word genome is derived from the German Genom, first used by the cytogeneticist Hans Winkler in 1920 to describe the haploid chromosome set of an organism. Notably, the word Genom was derived, by analogy, from Mitom, coined by cytologist Walther Flemming in 1882 to describe the reticular structures of the cell collectively. Next to these old-timers, the proteome is a neonate, younger even than that other baby, the World Wide Web, having been first used by Wasinger et al. in the journal Electrophoresis in 1995 [1.Wasinger V.C. Cordwell S.J. Cerpa-Poljak A. et al.Progress with gene-product mapping of the Mollicutes: Mycoplasma genitalium.Electrophoresis. 1995; 16: 1090-1094Crossref PubMed Scopus (808) Google Scholar]. As will be apparent to anyone with more than a cursory knowledge of the recent literature, there has been, since then, something of an –ome explosion, with the glycome, the metabolome and, a favourite of mine, the biobibliome all having emerged in the last 5 years. Literature searching by means of biobliometrics [2.Stapley B.J. Benoit G. Biobibliometrics: information retrieval and visualization from co-occurrences of gene names in Medline abstracts.Pac Symp Biocomput. 2000; : 529-540PubMed Google Scholar] is particularly appealing to me, as a scientist and journal editor, since the aim is not to identify previously unread but relevant articles (no small thing to be sure), but to identify previously unknown gene associations simply by assessing the patterns of gene names used in Medline documents. Successful science must surely, in part, be about such innovative use of existing knowledge and resources. Of course, much of what I and my colleagues among the editors of Annals of Oncology do, is try to identify that successful science and ensure that it gets into the literature in the first place. First impressions, as I have said before [3.Kerr D.J. Pride and judgement: the Annals of Oncology prizes.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 817-818Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar], play a fundamental part in this process. On that previous occasion I introduced the 2002 Annals of Oncology prizes and considered those first impressions with a certain pride. Now, 2 years on, I again find myself introducing those prizes and, similarly, am able to reflect on the high quality of work received by the Annals and the high quality of the advice I receive about what should go into the journal. Choosing just a few articles among the several hundred we have published over the last 2 years (in volumes 13 and 14) has been a difficult task but a rewarding one. Our aim then has been to reward and recognise those researchers who support the journal and strive, with us, to achieve excellence. Like our monthly routine task of selecting articles, only more so, the prizes are an attempt to recognise the best published articles in the categories of translational science, phase I, phase II and phase III studies. Our decisions (the judging has been by an editorial subcommittee) consider the areas of innovation, scientific quality and potential impact on the field, the pillars upon which Annals of Oncology is founded. Generous to a fault, we are backing up these judgements with cash prizes, with the author of the prizewinning article in each category receiving EUR 1000. Yet the simplest way for me to explain what I am on about will be to introduce the articles. Annals of Oncology Prize for translational science"Cooperative inhibitory effect of ZD1839 (Iressa) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) on human breast cancer cell growth", by Normanno et al. [4.Normanno N. Campiglio M. De Luca A. et al.Cooperative inhibitory effect of ZD1839 (Iressa) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) on human breast cancer cell growth.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 65-72Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (264) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions in this category go to:"Quantitative measurement of BCR/abl transcripts using real-time polymerase chain reaction", by Lee et al. [5.Lee W.-I. Kantarjian H. Glassman A. et al.Quantitative measurement of BCR/abl transcripts using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 781-788Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar]; and to"Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with chemotherapy resistance and outcome in ovarian cancer patients", by Ferrandina et al. [6.Ferrandina G. Lauriola L. Zannoni G.F. et al.Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with chemotherapy resistance and outcome in ovarian cancer patients.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1205-1211Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (151) Google Scholar]. "Cooperative inhibitory effect of ZD1839 (Iressa) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) on human breast cancer cell growth", by Normanno et al. [4.Normanno N. Campiglio M. De Luca A. et al.Cooperative inhibitory effect of ZD1839 (Iressa) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) on human breast cancer cell growth.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 65-72Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (264) Google Scholar]. Honourable mentions in this category go to: "Quantitative measurement of BCR/abl transcripts using real-time polymerase chain reaction", by Lee et al. [5.Lee W.-I. Kantarjian H. Glassman A. et al.Quantitative measurement of BCR/abl transcripts using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 781-788Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar]; and to "Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with chemotherapy resistance and outcome in ovarian cancer patients", by Ferrandina et al. [6.Ferrandina G. Lauriola L. Zannoni G.F. et al.Increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with chemotherapy resistance and outcome in ovarian cancer patients.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1205-1211Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (151) Google Scholar]. Annals of Oncology Prize for phase I studies"A pilot trial of G3139, a bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, and paclitaxel in patients with chemorefractory small-cell lung cancer", by Rudin et al. [7.Rudin C.M. Otterson G.M. Mauer A.M. et al.A pilot trial of G3139, a bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, and paclitaxel in patients with chemorefractory small-cell lung cancer.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 539-545Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (147) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions in this category go to:"Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of CCI-779, a novel cytostatic cell-cycle inhibitor, in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced solid tumors", by Punt et al. [8.Punt C.J.A. Boni J. Bruntsch U. et al.Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of CCI-779, a novel cytostatic cell-cycle inhibitor, in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced solid tumors.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 931-937Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (114) Google Scholar]; and to"Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of the selective oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) in Japanese patients with solid malignant tumors", by Nakagawa et al. [9.Nakagawa K. Tamura T. Negoro S. et al.Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of the selective oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) in Japanese patients with solid malignant tumors.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 922-930Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (254) Google Scholar]. "A pilot trial of G3139, a bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, and paclitaxel in patients with chemorefractory small-cell lung cancer", by Rudin et al. [7.Rudin C.M. Otterson G.M. Mauer A.M. et al.A pilot trial of G3139, a bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, and paclitaxel in patients with chemorefractory small-cell lung cancer.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 539-545Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (147) Google Scholar]. Honourable mentions in this category go to: "Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of CCI-779, a novel cytostatic cell-cycle inhibitor, in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced solid tumors", by Punt et al. [8.Punt C.J.A. Boni J. Bruntsch U. et al.Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of CCI-779, a novel cytostatic cell-cycle inhibitor, in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced solid tumors.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 931-937Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (114) Google Scholar]; and to "Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of the selective oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) in Japanese patients with solid malignant tumors", by Nakagawa et al. [9.Nakagawa K. Tamura T. Negoro S. et al.Phase I pharmacokinetic trial of the selective oral epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) in Japanese patients with solid malignant tumors.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 922-930Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (254) Google Scholar]. Annals of Oncology Prize for phase II studies"Phase II trial of thalidomide in renal-cell carcinoma", by Escudier et al. [10.Escudier B. Lassau N. Couanet D. et al.Phase II trial of thalidomide in renal-cell carcinoma.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1029-1035Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (106) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions must also go to:"A phase II trial of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor SCH 66336, given by twice-daily oral administration, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan", by Sharma et al. [11.Sharma S. Kemeny N. Kelsen D.P. et al.A phase II trial of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor SCH 66336, given by twice-daily oral administration, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1067-1071Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar]; and to"Neovastat (AE-941) in refractory renal cell carcinoma patients: report of a phase II trial with two dose levels", by Batist et al. [12.Batist G. Patenaude F. Champagne P. et al.Neovastat (Æ-941) in refractory renal cell carcinoma patients: report of a phase II trial with two dose levels.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1259-1263Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (99) Google Scholar]. "Phase II trial of thalidomide in renal-cell carcinoma", by Escudier et al. [10.Escudier B. Lassau N. Couanet D. et al.Phase II trial of thalidomide in renal-cell carcinoma.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1029-1035Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (106) Google Scholar]. Honourable mentions must also go to: "A phase II trial of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor SCH 66336, given by twice-daily oral administration, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan", by Sharma et al. [11.Sharma S. Kemeny N. Kelsen D.P. et al.A phase II trial of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor SCH 66336, given by twice-daily oral administration, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1067-1071Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar]; and to "Neovastat (AE-941) in refractory renal cell carcinoma patients: report of a phase II trial with two dose levels", by Batist et al. [12.Batist G. Patenaude F. Champagne P. et al.Neovastat (Æ-941) in refractory renal cell carcinoma patients: report of a phase II trial with two dose levels.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1259-1263Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (99) Google Scholar]. Annals of Oncology Prize for phase III studies"Phase III randomised trial comparing paclitaxel/carboplatin with paclitaxel/cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a cooperative multinational trial", by Rosell et al. [13.Rosell R. Gatzemeier U. Betticher D.C. et al.Phase III randomised trial comparing paclitaxel/carboplatin with paclitaxel/cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a cooperative multinational trial.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1539-1549Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (269) Google Scholar].Honourable mentions go to:"Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases", by Body et al. [14.Body J.-J. Diel I.J. Lichinitser M.R. et al.Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 1399-1405Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (369) Google Scholar]; and to"Prospective randomized comparison of vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) administered as intravenous bolus injection and VAD with liposomal doxorubicin as first-line treatment in multiple myeloma", by Dimopoulos et al. [15.Dimopoulos M.A. Pouli A. Zervas K. et al.Prospective randomized comparison of vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) administered as intravenous bolus injection and VAD with liposomal doxorubicin as first-line treatment in multiple myeloma.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 1039-1044Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (65) Google Scholar].Knowledge is power, or so said Sir Francis Bacon. I believe that these articles have added to both our knowledge and our power. Certainly I thank all those authors and, indeed, all those who continue to send their manuscripts to Annals of Oncology. Keep up the good work.So, clearly, I am still very proud of Annals, the work we receive and the work we do. And long may it remain so. Should you have an important manuscript on your desk right now, I hope that you will give serious consideration to sending it to us.See you in 2006. "Phase III randomised trial comparing paclitaxel/carboplatin with paclitaxel/cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a cooperative multinational trial", by Rosell et al. [13.Rosell R. Gatzemeier U. Betticher D.C. et al.Phase III randomised trial comparing paclitaxel/carboplatin with paclitaxel/cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a cooperative multinational trial.Ann Oncol. 2002; 13: 1539-1549Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (269) Google Scholar]. Honourable mentions go to: "Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases", by Body et al. [14.Body J.-J. Diel I.J. Lichinitser M.R. et al.Intravenous ibandronate reduces the incidence of skeletal complications in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 1399-1405Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (369) Google Scholar]; and to "Prospective randomized comparison of vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) administered as intravenous bolus injection and VAD with liposomal doxorubicin as first-line treatment in multiple myeloma", by Dimopoulos et al. [15.Dimopoulos M.A. Pouli A. Zervas K. et al.Prospective randomized comparison of vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) administered as intravenous bolus injection and VAD with liposomal doxorubicin as first-line treatment in multiple myeloma.Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 1039-1044Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (65) Google Scholar]. Knowledge is power, or so said Sir Francis Bacon. I believe that these articles have added to both our knowledge and our power. Certainly I thank all those authors and, indeed, all those who continue to send their manuscripts to Annals of Oncology. Keep up the good work. So, clearly, I am still very proud of Annals, the work we receive and the work we do. And long may it remain so. Should you have an important manuscript on your desk right now, I hope that you will give serious consideration to sending it to us. See you in 2006.