The Chinese Journal of Cancer's SCIE Milestone: A Gateway for Global Cancer Research
How inclusion in the Science Citation Index Expanded transformed Chinese cancer research and accelerated global collaboration
Introduction: More Than Just an Index
For researchers and clinicians in the relentless fight against cancer, the journey of a scientific discovery from the laboratory bench to a patient's bedside is paved with rigorous validation and peer communication. Scientific journals serve as the critical conduits for this process, and their inclusion in prestigious indexing services like the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) is a strong marker of their quality and global reach.
The Chinese Journal of Cancer (CJC) achieved this significant milestone when its publications were accepted for coverage in the SCIE, a notification it received in July 2014. This was not merely an administrative achievement; it represented a transformative step for Chinese cancer research, amplifying its voice on the international stage and ensuring that valuable findings from China and Asia could be seamlessly discovered, cited, and built upon by scientists worldwide 6 .
This article explores the profound meaning behind this achievement and how it coincides with exciting technological revolutions in our understanding of cancer itself.
SCIE Database
Over 9,200 leading scientific journals indexed
Global Reach
Amplifying Chinese cancer research worldwide
Hi-C Technology
Revolutionary 3D genome mapping
Research Tools
Advanced reagents and methodologies
The Science Citation Index Expanded: Curating the World's Scientific Knowledge
To appreciate the significance of the Chinese Journal of Cancer's inclusion, one must first understand the role of the Science Citation Index Expanded.
Rigorous Selection
A journal's acceptance into the SCIE is not automatic. Clarivate's editorial experts employ a rigorous selection process based on criteria like editorial standards, ethical practices, and international diversity 2 .
Impact Factor and Beyond
Inclusion in SCIE means a journal receives a Journal Impact Factor (JIF), a metric that, despite its limitations, is widely used to gauge a journal's influence. For the Chinese Journal of Cancer, this meant receiving its first official Impact Factor in 2015, a key milestone that enhanced its competitive standing 6 .
The Chinese Journal of Cancer: A Bridge for Regional Research
The Chinese Journal of Cancer's journey to the SCIE was the result of a deliberate and strategic transformation.
From Local to Global
As an official journal of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA), CJC has long been a leading cancer journal in China. To meet the demands of globalization, it underwent a crucial shift from a Chinese-language journal to a fully English-language publication in 2010 6 .
A Unique Focus
The journal serves as a unique forum for discoveries in cancer types that are prevalent in China and Asia, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), liver cancer, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer. By publishing high-level, peer-reviewed research in these areas, it provides invaluable data that might otherwise be underrepresented in the global literature 6 .
International Collaboration
With an international editorial board and English language editors, the journal positioned itself as a platform for global collaboration. The acceptance into SCIE was a recognition of its success in this endeavor, ensuring that its content would be tracked, cited, and contribute to the broader scientific conversation 6 .
2010
Transition to English-language publication
July 2014
Accepted for coverage in SCIE
2015
Received first official Impact Factor
A Deep Dive into a Key Technology: Hi-C and the 3D Cancer Genome
The evolution of journals like CJC parallels the advancement of technologies that are reshaping cancer research. One of the most revolutionary in recent years is Hi-C technology, which allows scientists to map the three-dimensional (3D) structure of DNA inside the cell nucleus. This has profound implications for understanding cancer.
The Methodology: Mapping the Genome's Architecture
The Hi-C procedure is a sophisticated multi-step process that captures the spatial organization of chromatin (the complex of DNA and protein) 9 :
Cells are first treated with a crosslinking agent, essentially "freezing" the chromatin in its native 3D structure within the nucleus.
A restriction enzyme is used to cut the DNA into fragments.
The ends of the DNA fragments are marked and then joined together. Crucially, fragments that were physically close in the 3D space of the nucleus are more likely to be connected.
The newly ligated DNA is sequenced. Advanced bioinformatics tools then analyze the sequencing data to identify which genomic regions interacted, constructing a comprehensive "contact map" of the genome.
Results and Analysis: Unraveling Cancer's Secrets
Hi-C has provided unprecedented insights into the biology of cancer by revealing how genomic structure dictates function:
Identifying Structural Variants (SVs)
Cancer genomes are often unstable, with large chunks of DNA being deleted, duplicated, or rearranged. Hi-C can precisely identify these SVs, which can lead to the activation of oncogenes (genes that can cause cancer) 9 .
Discovering Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA)
One of the most significant discoveries facilitated by Hi-C is the role of ecDNA. These are small, circular pieces of DNA that exist outside the chromosomes. They can carry multiple copies of powerful oncogenes, driving aggressive tumor growth and contributing to drug resistance 9 .
Understanding Gene Regulation
Hi-C allows researchers to see how distant regulatory elements, like enhancers, physically loop through space to contact and control the activity of their target genes. Disruption of these "chromatin loops" is a common feature in cancer 9 .
Key 3D Genomic Structures Identified by Hi-C in Cancer Research
| Structure | Description | Role in Cancer |
|---|---|---|
| Chromatin Loops | Structures that bring distant regulatory elements (e.g., enhancers) close to gene promoters. | Aberrant loops can lead to the overexpression of oncogenes or silencing of tumor suppressor genes. |
| TADs (Topologically Associating Domains) | Self-interacting genomic regions where interactions within a TAD are more frequent than between TADs. | SVs that disrupt TAD boundaries can allow enhancers to incorrectly activate powerful oncogenes. |
| Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) | Circular DNA molecules that exist outside chromosomes. | Carry multiple copies of oncogenes, driving high expression, tumor heterogeneity, and therapy resistance. |
The Scientist's Toolkit: Essential Reagents for Cancer Research
The breakthroughs in Hi-C and other cancer research technologies rely on a suite of sophisticated tools and reagents. The following table details some key solutions used in modern cancer research laboratories.
| Research Tool | Example Product | Function in Research |
|---|---|---|
| Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) | Ion Torrent Oncomine cfNA assays | Detects cancer-associated genetic mutations from a single blood sample (liquid biopsy) for early detection and monitoring 5 . |
| Flow Cytometry | Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer | Rapidly analyzes physical and chemical characteristics of cells, used for immunophenotyping (identifying immune cells) in the tumor microenvironment 5 . |
| Cell Culture | Gibco media & Nunc plastics | Provides optimized, consistent growth conditions for cultivating cancer cell lines used in experiments 5 . |
| CRISPR Screening | MISSION® CRISPR gRNAs & Cas9 | Enables genome-wide screens to identify genes essential for cancer cell survival or drug resistance . |
| Multiplex Immunoassays | MILLIPLEX® multiplex assays | Allows simultaneous measurement of dozens of protein biomarkers (e.g., from signaling pathways) from a single small sample volume . |
| Magnetic Beads | Invitrogen Dynabeads | Used to selectively isolate specific biomolecules (e.g., proteins, DNA) from complex mixtures with high purity and minimal hands-on time 5 . |
The Future of Cancer Research: Integration and Innovation
The story of the Chinese Journal of Cancer and the rise of technologies like Hi-C point to a future defined by integration and accessibility.
The Multi-Omics Era
The future lies in combining Hi-C data with other "omics" datasets—such as genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics. This integrated approach provides a holistic view of the complex cancer genome 9 .
The Rise of Single-Cell Analysis
New techniques like single-cell Hi-C (scHi-C) and multi-omics methods are now allowing scientists to probe the 3D genome and gene expression in individual cells. This is crucial for understanding tumor heterogeneity 9 .
Emerging Cancer Therapy Modalities
| Therapy Modality | Example | Mechanism of Action | Target Cancers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bispecific Antibody | BNT142 (an mRNA-encoded bispecific) | Connects T-cells directly to tumor cells (via CLDN6 protein) to initiate a targeted immune attack 3 . | CLDN6-positive tumors (e.g., testicular, ovarian) |
| Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) | Pivekimab Sunirine (PVEK) | An antibody targets the CD123 protein on cancer cells, delivering a toxic payload directly to them 3 . | Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN) |
| Small Molecule Inhibitor | VLS-1488 (oral KIF18A inhibitor) | Inhibits a motor protein (KIF18A) critical for the division of chromosomally unstable cancer cells, sparing healthy cells 3 . | Cancers with chromosomal instability |
Conclusion: A Collaborative Path Forward
The indexing of the Chinese Journal of Cancer in the SCIE was more than an academic formality; it was a vital step in democratizing cancer knowledge. It ensured that regionally specific research could enter the global mainstream, accelerating the collective pace of discovery. This milestone mirrors the broader trajectory of cancer research: a field moving toward greater transparency, international collaboration, and technological sophistication.
From understanding the intricate 3D architecture of the cancer genome with tools like Hi-C to developing targeted immunotherapies, the fight against cancer is being waged with increasingly powerful tools. As journals like CJC continue to disseminate high-quality science, and as technologies continue to evolve, the shared goal of conquering cancer becomes ever more attainable. The path forward is undoubtedly challenging, but it is one we walk together, armed with knowledge and a commitment to collaboration.
Global Collaboration
International partnerships accelerate cancer research breakthroughs
Advanced Technologies
Innovative tools like Hi-C provide unprecedented insights into cancer biology
Knowledge Sharing
Scientific journals bridge research communities and disseminate discoveries