The immediate goal of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) therapy, operational cure, is defined as survival like sex- age-adjusted normals and a normal quality-of-life (QoL). This is being met in many people with CML receiving tyrosine kinase-inhibitor (TKI) drugs. More ambitious goals are achieving a normal life expectancy off therapy, referred to as therapy-free remission (TFR) and ultimately permanent eradication of the disease. Unfortunately, TFR is achieved in only 10-20 percent of people with CML, whilst the first goal is being met in many people with CML but a normal life-expectancy off therapy is achieved in very few, and permanent eradication of the disease in none. CML therapy recommendations are continuously modified with success: 10-year survival is now 80–90% in clinical trials, with about one-half of deaths from causes unrelated to CML. People achieving a stable deep molecular response (DMR) can discontinue therapy with about one-half achieving long-term TFR. The clinical advantage of TFR over lifelong TKI-therapy is obvious, but the road to achieving this goal is complex, expensive and not open to many. There is controversy on how to best use TKIs. Which are the best and most cost-effective strategies to achieve TFR, to optimize survival and improve QoL? What strategy is best in someone not meeting proposed TKI-response or -stopping criteria or fails because of molecular, cytogenetic and/or hematologic leukemia recurrence? How can we reduce adverse events from lifelong TKI-therapy and complications of more intensive therapies aimed at achieving TFR? The main issues are which TKI, at what dose, for how long and alone or with other drugs? A major issue in CML research is the role of BCR::ABL1 independent pathways resulting in molecular and/or cytogenetic clonal evolution. Blast phase CML is characterized by additional molecular aberrations. The best therapy of blast phase disease is controversial and it is best prevented. With this collection on CML related publications, we try to summarize current knowledge and address the most relevant research questions. You are invited to contribute to this collection with up-to-date results from your research.

Increased understanding of the phenotype and genotype abnormalities associated with cancer including cytogenetic, immune and molecular features has facilitated development of tests to identify and quantify residual cancer cells not detected by conventional methods. Progress is especially rapid in haematological compared with solid cancers. Starting from modestly accurate tests for measurable residual disease (MRD), testing is being used at many centres and available from commercial laboratories. It is hoped that results of these tests will provide clinically meaningful predictive and/or prognostic data and inform therapy decision-making. This collection of articles on MRD features critical analyses of the extent to which these goals have been achieved in haematological and solid cancers.

In this collection we highlight a selection of articles from 2023, which top the list of the journal’s most cited, downloaded and most shared (including press coverage, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Weibo). The articles showcase the breadth of scope and coverage that the journal consistently delivers to its readers.

The Emerging Leaders collection welcomes and recognizes new talent in the hematology field. This collection acknowledges groundbreaking researchers, clinicians, and educators who are still in the early stages of their scientific careers, serving as a platform to showcase their latest work.

In this collection we highlight a selection of articles from 2022, which top the list of the journal’s most cited, downloaded and most shared (including press coverage, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Weibo). The articles showcase the breadth of scope and coverage that the journal consistently delivers to its readers.

In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal to Reduce Inequalities (SDG10), this collection aims to bring together articles enhancing our understanding of cancer health disparities across the different dimensions of inequality research. There are many expanding fields of health inequalities research but this collection will include articles examining disproportionate cancer burdens in populations such as: rural-urban, gender/sexual, racial/ethnic, religious minority and socioeconomic status groups, and of course any group where health inequality needs to be addressed. This wider collection builds upon our existing collections more specifically focused on Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer and Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer in the US We are building an ongoing knowledge base of content from across all oncology journals to increase the discoverability of articles in this important research area. Thus, we call for new contributions to this collection and invite you to read recent research below.

This collection is dedicated to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in cancer healthcare. We are particularly interested in research examining the long-term impact for patients with cancer. To increase the discoverability of scientific literature related to COVID-19 cancer research, here we bring together key articles from across a series of oncology journals. We welcome future submissions to expand this collection further.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumours provides a definitive classification of all tumours, worldwide. This is essential to underpin the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, as well as research and education. Without it, clinical trial results could not be compared between countries, research results could not be evaluated collectively and epidemiological studies based on cancer registration would be impossible. The classification will help move the field forward by being based on a forwardlooking multidisciplinary effort grounded in genetic advances, with an eye on worldwide applicability. An overview of the classification and its salient features are provided in two typescripts, which cover the classification of myeloid and histiocytic/dendritic neoplasms and the classification of lymphoid neoplasms. Added to this is the recent 'HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) recommendations for the designation of gene fusions'. In this typescript a group of experts under auspices of the Human Genome Organization’s (HUGO) Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) proposes using double colons (::) as the official designation for fusion genes. The Leukemia Editors strongly support the HGNC recommendation and request authors use the HGNC nomenclature in submissions to Leukemia and other journals. The goal of HUGO and HGNC is to provide unique symbols and names for human gene loci including protein coding genes, non-coding RNA genes and pseudogenes with the purpose of unambiguous scientific communication.

The Institute of Medicine defines disparities as “racial or ethnic differences in the quality of health care that are not due to access-related factors or clinical needs, preferences, and appropriateness of intervention.” This was certainly well demonstrated in the recent COVID pandemic where there were marked differences in morbidity and mortality in minority groups. These inequalities occur in all age groups and diseases compared to non-minorities. A disproportionate number of cancer deaths occur among racial and ethnic minorities in most Western countries. The causes have been extensively investigated and highlighted, and include a wide range of intersecting problems. Thus, the system itself, access to the system, communication, nutrition, education, housing, job stability, trust amongst others. Many extensive reviews have been published but if anything the problems are becoming worse with a decrease in standard of living, health care budgets and education. In this collection we publish a range of original research and reviews from the British Journal of Cancer, Leukemia and Blood Cancer Journal highlighting the problems and suggesting solutions to some of these issues. The editors welcome future submissions to expand this collection further.

Cancer therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cells is one of the most exciting recent developments in cancer therapy. To date CAR-T-cells have been successfully used to treat persons with hematologic cancers, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), lymphomas and plasma cell myeloma (PCM). Although most studies are in persons with advanced lymphomas, some controversial data suggest CAR-T-cell therapy might replace autologous hematopoietic cell transplants in persons failing conventional therapies. The CAR-T-cell constructs are directed against lineage-related targets such as CD19 and CD20. Although studies of using CAR-T-cells to treat other hematologic cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and solid cancers are progressing, these targets have proved more elusive and no CAR-T-cell therapy is yet approved. In this collection we include key research published in the journals Leukemia, Blood Cancer Journal, Cancer Gene Therapy, Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology and Medical Oncology. The editors welcome future submissions to expand this collection further.

A paradox in tumor immunity is the co-existing of growing tumors with circulating or tissue-infiltrating tumor-reactive T cells. The inability of tumor-reactive T cells in control of tumor growth has been attributed to the presence of regulatory T cells (Treg) in cancer host. Since then, understanding the role of Treg cells has become one of the intensively studied areas in cancer immunotherapy. However, fewer options targeting Treg cells have been validated in clinical trials and therefore more preclinical and clinical studies are required to provide reliable therapeutic targets with respect to Treg cell biology. To that end, this selection will highlight recent progresses in Treg cell biology and provide new opportunities for developing new therapeutic approaches to target Treg cells. The scope and topics of this collection include but are not limited to: • The generation and accumulation of Treg cells in cancer host. • The regulatory function of Treg cells in shaping immune response to cancer. • The role of Treg cells in the prognosis of cancer and in response to immunotherapy. • Therapeutic targets in Treg cells that can promote antitumor immunity. In this collection we include key research published in the journals Leukemia, Cancer Gene Therapy and Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. The editors welcome future submissions to expand this collection further.

See what readers worldwide have been citing and sharing. In this Web Focus we highlight a selection of articles from 2021, which top the list of the journal’s most cited, downloaded and most shared (including press coverage, blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Weibo). They showcase the breadth of scope and coverage that the journal consistently delivers to its readers.