Cancer Research (CanRes): Instructions for Authors Scope Cancer Research is the most frequently cited cancer journal in the world. The journal publishes original studies, reviews, and opinion pieces offering significance and broad impact to a diverse audience spanning basic, preclinical, clinical, prevention, and epidemiologic research. Cancer Research seeks manuscripts that offer pathobiological and translational impact to inform the personal, clinical, and societal problems posed by cancer. The main scope of the journal is captured in its primary subsections, which focus on molecular and cellular pathobiology, tumor and stem cell biology, therapeutics and targets, microenvironment and immunology, prevention and epidemiology, and integrated systems and technology. Please note that the journal is unable to entertain pre-submission inquiries. See the Submission Procedures section of the Instructions for Authors for information on submitting a manuscript for consideration. Papers are stringently reviewed, and only those that report results of novel, timely, and broadly-significant research meeting high standards of scientific merit are accepted for publication. The following criteria provide an overview of the types of studies considered by the journal: • • • • • • • •
Findings which have not been previously published in another tumor model. Studies performed in multiple cell lines. Conclusions which are not representative of incremental findings. Studies which include a clearly written title and abstract which communicate the study's impact of significance to non-experts. An incisive rationale that could interest a broad audience. Manuscripts containing in vivo data. Although in vivo data is not required, studies containing this data are preferred. A potentially generalizable, broad impact conclusion. Studies which describe RNA interference (RNAi) must contain one non-specific control and two specific siRNAs for each knockdown target of interest. Additional data showing that knockdown at the level of protein expression (not just mRNA) was achieved is required.
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Categories of Publication The following types of articles will be considered for publication. Note that word counts are exclusive of references. Authors are advised that submissions not adhering to the guidelines provided below, including word counts, may be returned unreviewed.
Research Articles Original studies offering broad impact across the fields of basic, preclinical, clinical, prevention and epidemiologic cancer research. The reports should be well-documented, novel, and significant to the field as a whole. The Editor-in-Chief and members of the senior editorial board reserve the right to edit title, abstract, and précis for articles that are accepted to improve their clarity, brevity, and quality. • • • •
250-word abstract 5,000 words of text 7 tables and/or figures (Please keep the number of panels per figure to an absolute minimum) 50 references
Priority Reports Short, definitive reports of findings of high impact, significance, and timeliness. These reports receive an accelerated review. Papers submitted as Priority Reports should include a section for Materials and Methods as well as Results and Discussion (Results and Discussion may be combined but Materials and Methods may not be combined with any other section). The Editor-in-Chief and members of the senior editorial board reserve the right to edit title, abstract, and précis for articles that are accepted, to improve their clarity, brevity, and quality. • • • •
250-word abstract 2,500 words of text 4 tables and/or figures — Please note that each figure or table is limited to a maximum of 4 panels. 20 references
Reviews Articles that review a timely subject important to cancer researchers. Reviews must be written as concisely as possible. Authors of unsolicited Review Articles must first submit an outline of the proposed article for consideration. The outline should be sent to the attention of Dr. Danny R. Welch, Deputy Editor for Reviews (Fax: (215) 440-9354; Email:
[email protected]). All Review Articles, whether invited or not, will be subject to peer review. The length restrictions for this category of publication are provided below. Longer reviews will be considered only at the discretion of the Deputy Editor for Reviews. • •
200-word abstract 2,000 words of text 2
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1 original figure with a maximum of 4 panels 30 references
Perspectives in Cancer Research Articles that present fresh insights on a very active or underdeveloped area of research, with a personal viewpoint on the area, its pressing issues, or its development. • • • •
200-word abstract 3,000 words of text 3 tables and/or figures, each with a maximum of 4 panels 30 references
Public Issues Brief articles on topics of interest to cancer researchers and the general public. These topics might include articles on advocacy for funding cancer research, government relations, training in the field, public education, or science education. •
2,000 words of text
Letters to the Editor In the spirit of open scientific dialogue, the Editors invite the submission of correspondence that presents considered opinions in response to articles published in the journal. Letters to the Editor will be peer reviewed and, if found to meet the requisite publication criteria (scholarly commentary on a subject of importance and interest to the broad readership), the Letter may be sent to the author(s) of the originally published article and possibly to other interested parties for a response to be published in the same issue of the journal as the Letter. Please note that the journal will not consider Letters to the Editor regarding Cancer Research articles that were published more than 3 months prior. Correspondence concerning articles that have not been published in Cancer Research will not be considered. The length restrictions for this category of publication are as follows: • • •
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400 words of text 5 references, the first of which must be the citation for the original article under discussion Letters may contain figures or tables only if they show data that refute the conclusions of the originating article. Figures or tables showing unpublished data in support of the conclusions of the originating article will not be considered. Include a title: "Running title of the original article" — Letter
Meeting Reports Brief reports of symposia and conferences in cancer research. Reports must be submitted within 2 months of the meeting date in order to maintain their timeliness. Only those Meeting Reports dealing with topics of interest to the readership that contain novel information and 3
insights from the meeting will be accepted for publication. A Meeting Report should offer a thoughtful, critical commentary that shows an appreciation of the connections among various presentations and reveals the consensus, if any, that emerged on matters of importance at the meeting. Before submitting a Meeting Report for consideration, potential authors must send a letter to the attention of Dr. Mariano Barbacid, Deputy Editor for Meeting Reports, to inquire whether the suggested meeting satisfies criteria for consideration. Letters of inquiry should be sent to the Publications Office (Fax: (215) 440-9354; Email:
[email protected]). Length restrictions for this category of publication are as follows: • • • • • •
100 word abstract 2,500 words of text Figures and/or tables are not permitted without prior approval from the Editors References, if necessary, must be kept to a minimum A statement of the purpose of the meeting, an integrated summary of the findings presented, and recommendations for future research The names and affiliations of key speakers should be given in an appendix that is submitted as supplemental information, not as part of the manuscript text
Mathematical Oncology Research Articles Published in the Integrated Systems and Technologies section of the journal, Mathematical Oncology articles include mathematical approaches to problems in cancer research. These articles will contain new testable hypotheses, integration of theory and experimental data, facilitation of wide-ranging investigations, and basic laws of biology. The format and length restrictions for this category of publication are as follows: Title: 150 characters (not including spaces) Abstract: 350 words, in the following construction: • • • •
Summarize the background, cancer significance, and question "set the stage") Describe the findings ("deliver the result") Summarize the meaning and implication of the advance ("place in context") Succinct nonmathematical description of the major results; please use the subheading Major Findings to differentiate this portion of the abstract
Quick Guide to Equations and Assumptions: Up to 5 equations, 800 words maximum • •
Present key equations; for each, include a description and/or definition of the components of the equation Present all major assumptions of the model
Body Text: 5,000 text words
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Figures and/or Tables: maximum of 7. Authors are asked to keep the number of panels per figure to an absolute minimum. • •
Acceptable formats: TIFF, EPS, PPT Submit figures and tables as separate files
References: 50 Supplementary Material: Submit the details of the computational procedures and a flowchart of the algorithm(s) as Supplementary Material. Cancer Research encourages that all programs used in the calculations or detailed instructions to replicate the major findings also be provided as Supplementary Material. Prior to depositing a program, you must ensure and attest that the posted version executes properly. Deposit data used for analysis (curve fitting, approximations, parameter estimation, etc.) as Supplementary Material.
Cancer Research Editorial Office American Association for Cancer Research | Publications Division 615 Chestnut Street | 17th Floor | Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404 Phone: (215) 440-9300 | Fax: (215) 440-9354 | E-mail:
[email protected] Updated: 4 December 2013 11:30 am EST
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