To the Readers

Abstract

The Middle East has always been a part of the world which has receivedmuch attention. It is regarded by many as the cradle of civilization and where East meets West. In addition to a rich historical and cultural background, ithas been a region where much of modern science can find its roots. The great accomplishments of eminent scientists such as Avicenna and Razes are nothidden to anyone. These scholars strived hard to scientifically disentangle the mysteries hidden deep within the field of medicine, and tried diligently to prescribe remedies to cure the sick. They accomplished a lot in the days when there was a lack of technology and equipment. It is my belief that they were able to succeed because of the rich historical and cultural heritage of our region, which lingered on with them as a valuable asset. People strive and flourish in glorious eras, when there is unity, stability and a sense of belonging;when art and science are cherished and artists and scientists are honored and praised. It is a good sign to see that even today, science, especially the field of medicine, is flourishing in our region and our scientists are actively involved in state-of-the-art basic science and clinical research.One of the fields where great concern is being focused nowadays is cancer.Cancer is now becoming a growing health problem in our region, and as ourdiet and lifestyle habits change, we will become more prone to this disease.Because many prominent Middle Eastern scientists are working in this field,we believe it is important to have a journal in our region that can be a medium for publication of these findings. Hopefully, with contributions from researchers in both the Middle East and elsewhere, we can provide a forum for publication of excellent research on this subject so that all interested scientists worldwide can benefit from it. We believe that initiatives of this nature, that can benefitfrom editorial input from different countries and can publish scientific knowledge from the region as well as the world, will enhance the scientific visibility of this part of the world and foster more collaborative research inthe field of cancer. I hope that researchers from all over the world will support us in this endeavor and that we can strive for scientific excellence along withcomradeship, which has always been an integral part of the Middle East identity