It covers research on all aspects of clinical oncology.

The journal was established in 1983 and the editor-in-chief is Jonathan W. Friedberg (University of Rochester).

[1] In 1981[2][circular reference] Emil Frei III proposed that the American Society of Clinical Oncology should publish an official journal and that it should be called Journal of Clinical Oncology.

[3] The first issue was published on January 1, 1983, containing 70 pages of research and an editorial by the then editor-in-chief, Joseph Bertino.

[6] Daniel Haller became editor-in-chief in 2001 and during his tenure the journal moved from its publisher Grune & Stratton to in-house publication by society staff.