Journal Guide
Annals of Oncology Impact Factor 65.4: Publishing Guide
Oncology: clinical trials, cancer biology, and therapeutic innovation
65.4
Impact Factor (2024)
~10-20%
Acceptance Rate
~90-120 days median
Time to First Decision
What Ann. Oncol. Publishes
Annals of Oncology published by ESMO is a premier international oncology journal. With JIF 65.4 and Q1 ranking in Oncology, AO emphasizes high-impact cancer research combining clinical findings with mechanistic insight. The journal publishes research on cancer treatment, biomarkers, and clinical outcomes. Critically: AO is highly selective, valuing work advancing cancer treatment globally. Routine studies lack competitiveness. The journal seeks papers making major oncology contributions.
- Clinical trial outcomes: treatment efficacy, safety, response prediction
- Cancer immunotherapy: checkpoint inhibitors, cellular therapy, immune mechanisms
- Precision oncology: genomic testing, biomarkers, treatment selection
- Solid tumors: lung, breast, colorectal, ovarian, gastric cancers
- Hematologic malignancies: leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma
- Novel therapies: antibody-drug conjugates, CAR-T, targeted therapies
- Resistance mechanisms: drug resistance, combination strategies, overcoming resistance
- Cancer biology: tumor microenvironment, immune infiltration, disease mechanisms
Editor Insight
“Annals of Oncology publishes high-impact cancer research advancing global oncology practice. We seek mature clinical trials with significant efficacy and mechanistic insight.”
What Ann. Oncol. Editors Look For
High-impact clinical finding advancing cancer treatment outcomes
Present trial or finding improving cancer patient survival or outcomes. New treatment benefit? Superior biomarker? Prevention strategy? Major clinical impact required.
Rigorous trial design with adequate patient numbers and follow-up
Randomized clinical trials or large translational studies. Sufficient power and mature follow-up for clinical endpoints.
Mechanistic understanding of treatment response or resistance
Explain why therapy works or why resistance emerges. Molecular mechanisms driving clinical outcomes.
Biomarker validation predicting treatment response
Biomarkers validated in independent cohorts enabling patient stratification and treatment selection.
Global applicability and real-world relevance
Show treatment feasible and effective across healthcare systems. Address practical implementation.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Ann. Oncol.'s editorial review:
Phase 1/2 trial without mature efficacy data
AO expects mature, significant clinical data. Early-phase work without clear efficacy signal or mechanism insufficient.
Single-center study without multi-center validation
Single-site findings need independent validation. Multi-center trials strengthen credibility.
No mechanistic explanation of treatment effect
Explain treatment mechanisms. What drives response? What predicts resistance?
Biomarker claims without independent validation
Biomarkers must validate in independent cohorts. Single-cohort discovery insufficient.
Ignoring global context and healthcare disparities
Show treatment applicable globally. Address cost and accessibility issues.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Ann. Oncol.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from Ann. Oncol. Authors
Randomized phase 3 trials with survival endpoints most competitive
Mature, powered trials showing overall survival or progression-free survival benefit have highest impact.
Immunotherapy combination and sequencing increasingly valued
Optimizing checkpoint inhibitor combinations and treatment sequences increasingly important.
Predictive biomarkers for treatment selection competitive
Biomarkers enabling precise treatment selection have immediate clinical utility.
Resistance mechanisms and overcoming resistance valued
Understanding and overcoming therapeutic resistance increasingly important as field matures.
Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life emphasized
Patient-centered outcomes increasingly important in modern oncology trials.
The Ann. Oncol. Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep6,000-9,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include trial design, patient cohort, treatment description, efficacy/safety outcomes, biomarker analysis, mechanistic discussion.
Submission via ESMO system
Day 0Submit at https://www.annalsofoncology.org/. Required: manuscript emphasizing clinical significance, figures showing efficacy and biomarker data, cover letter highlighting impact.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses trial significance and oncology impact. Routine studies or early-phase work face rejection. Highly selective desk rejection ~50-60%.
Peer review
90-120 days2-3 leading oncologists assess trial design rigor, outcome significance, mechanistic insight, biomarker validity, and global applicability. First decision 90-120 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 2-4 weeksRevisions often minor if accepted. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
Ann. Oncol. by the Numbers
| 2024 Impact Factor | 14.3 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 14.9 |
| Acceptance rate | ~10-20% |
| Desk rejection rate | ~50-60% |
| Median first decision | ~105 days |
| Open access option | $4,500 USD |
| Publisher | ESMO |
| Founded | 1990 |
Before you submit
Ann. Oncol. accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
The pre-submission diagnostic runs a live literature search, scores your manuscript section by section, and gives you a prioritized fix list calibrated to Ann. Oncol.. ~30 minutes.
Article Types
Clinical Trial
6,000-9,000 wordsPhase 2-3 cancer trial with efficacy outcomes
Translational Research
6,000-9,000 wordsCancer biology with clinical application
Landmark Ann. Oncol. Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Checkpoint inhibitor trials (2015+) - immunotherapy revolution
- Targeted therapy in advanced cancer (2010s+) - precision oncology
- Novel combination therapies (2010s+) - overcoming resistance
- Biomarker-driven trial designs (2010s+) - patient stratification
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Primary Fields
Related Journal Guides
- Publishing in Nature
- Publishing in Journal of Clinical Oncology
- Publishing in The Lancet Oncology
- Publishing in JAMA Oncology
- Publishing in JAMA
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