Urologic Oncology was born on Memorial Day weekend in May 1994. Its first issue was published in January 1995. A quarter century has passed since then. This “year of COVID-19,” better known as 2020, marks the 25th year of its publication.
A celebration of this anniversary had been planned to take place at our annual editorial board meeting in May 2020 during the American Urological Association (AUA) meeting. COVID-19 put everything on hold. The AUA meeting was cancelled. In default, we decided to have the editorial board meeting via “Zoom,” simply acknowledge this milestone anniversary of the journal, and delay a hoped-for happier celebration till our in-person editorial board meeting at the AUA in 2021.
Nonetheless, I felt it important to mark this anniversary in a less “virtual,” more formal way. I thought that one option would be to publish a history of the journal, documenting events and highlights of the journal's quarter century of publication. Having been present from that first weekend in 1994, I remembered much of what had transpired since and had kept many of the documents and correspondences that had crossed my desk (and in later years, my computer) through the years. I had also made notes of personal interactions I had with many of those who had played important roles during the years of the journal's birth, its early development, and then its growth and maturity.
I reviewed this information with some of those who had been involved in several of the journal's milestones: Glen Campbell, the original publisher, who had served as the journal's “midwife,” first in delivering it and then nurturing and providing guidance during its early years; Dr. Paul Schellhammer who as president of the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) had facilitated Urologic Oncology receiving the society's designation as its “official journal” and thereby providing the support the journal needed to achieve an identity in proceeding to its adolescence; and Dr. Jim Montie, my co-Editor-in-Chief when our two independent journals merged to become Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations and began to reach its maturity. Having their recollections and my own documentation at hand, I proceeded to write a history.
I originally planned to publish this in the journal's December 2020 issue to mark its 25th anniversary. But then I thought it might be of value to publish a history of the SUO as a companion article. I felt that this would provide an understanding of the background of the journal's designation as the SUO's “official journal,” of the relationships that accompanied this, and of subsequent interactions. I asked Drs Paul Lange, historian of the SUO, Paul Schellhammer, president of the SUO when the “official journal” initiative was proposed, and Michael Cookson, current SUO president, to provide a narrative for which I could provide comments and perspectives through my involvement in both the SUO and the journal from their beginnings. I also wanted the joint publication of these two articles to represent the gratitude we at the journal felt toward the SUO for the support it had provided at a critical time in the journal's history.
Several days later, I experienced a “eureka” moment. The journal is blessed with a multidisciplinary group of section and seminar editors who are knowledgeable and insightful in their understanding of the respective urologic cancers. I thought we could make the 25th anniversary issue of the journal a special commemorative edition by providing an occasion for the editors to present their perspectives on advances that had been made in our understanding of the biology, evaluation, and treatment of each of the urologic cancers during the past quarter century. Their enthusiastic response to my suggestion was virtually immediate.
I delayed the joint publication of the original two histories (that of the Journal and that of the SUO) from from 2020 to 2021 to allow the idea of a special edition of the journal as a document of 25 years of Urologic Oncology history to coalesce. I suggested organization of our editors into groups based on their interests and complementary expertise. I developed a list of topics that would encompass advances in Urologic Oncology during the past 25 years. I then targeted the next editorial board meeting as the time to present this special historical issue. This would allow the editors time to optimize their collaborations and produce comprehensive historical records in presenting their perspectives. The results of their efforts are the articles that appear in this issue of the journal.
We begin with a narrative of the 25-year history of Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. This presentation represents my deeply felt appreciation to the numerous individuals who provided their expertise and support in the establishment, evolution, and growth of the journal as it now stands. This is followed by a companion history of the SUO with a focus on its own birth, growth, and development as it supported the establishment of Urologic Oncology as a specialty for both urologists and other disciplines in collaborative activities for the investigation, assessment, and management of urologic cancers.
These are followed by a series of articles in which the editors of the journal discuss their perspectives on advances in our understanding of the biology, evaluation, and treatment of prostate, urothelial, kidney, testis, and penile cancer during the past 25 years. Since the journal's editorial board is comprised of urologic oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and laboratory investigators active in each of these areas, their articles provide a comprehensive overview of urologic cancers and complement the multidisciplinary mission of the SUO in addressing various aspects of urologic oncology. Appearing next are additional articles by our editors presenting advances in radiation treatment of urologic cancers, evolution of the histologic, molecular, and genetic characterization of these cancers, and assessment of the role of biomarkers in urologic cancers, each during the past quarter century.
The journal has always provided a place for articles on the epidemiology, demographics, racial and gender disparities, health policy, and health services in urologic cancers. We therefore conclude this special issue of the journal with an article on the evolution and advances in these specific areas of urologic oncology during the past 25 years.
As part of their review, the editors have also been encouraged to provide their thoughts on future directions and challenges in the areas they address. Thus, in addition to presenting historical information and perspectives, these reviews are intended to stimulate new ideas, and in some instances to be provocative. This is in keeping with objectives that have characterized the editorial approach of the journal from its inception.
I want to express my deep gratitude to my coeditors for providing these articles for this 25th anniversary issue of the journal. I am equally grateful for the consistent support they and all of our previous editors have provided in producing every issue of the journal during these past 25 years. I also want to thank the clinical and laboratory investigators who have contributed their research to the journal through the years and entrusted the journal with the publication of their work. Additionally, I want to express our sincere appreciation to the reviewers whose thoughts and suggestions have optimized the articles we have been privileged to publish. Last but not least, I want to acknowledge the advice and support of the publishers with whom we have worked directly, and Elsevier in deciding to publish the journal at the beginning and in continuing its support during some difficult times. All have been of inestimable help throughout the journal's history.
May we raise a virtual glass as a toast in appreciation to all who have worked together in behalf of the journal as we sincerely hope that Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations will continue on its successful trajectory and remain of value to the urologic oncology community in the years to come.
Conflict of interest
As author of this introduction to the special issue of the 25th anniversary of the journal, I have no financial conflicts of interest and have recused myself from any editorial decisions.