Journal Guide
Cancer Research Impact Factor 16.6: Publishing Guide
Oncology research: tumor biology, therapeutics, and translational science
16.6
Impact Factor (2024)
~15-20%
Acceptance Rate
~100-130 days median
Time to First Decision
What Cancer Res. Publishes
Cancer Research published by the American Association for Cancer Research is one of the most selective and influential primary research journals in oncology. With JIF 16.6 and Q1 ranking in Oncology, CR emphasizes rigorous oncology research with clinical relevance. The journal publishes research on tumor biology, cancer therapeutics, and translational cancer science. Critically: CR values research with clear cancer significance and clinical translation potential. Mechanistic studies of interesting pathways without cancer context are less competitive. The journal seeks papers advancing cancer understanding or therapy.
- Tumor biology: transformation, progression, metastasis, angiogenesis
- Oncogenes and suppressors: genetic drivers, mutation effects, pathways
- Immunotherapy: immune mechanisms, checkpoint inhibitors, cellular therapies
- Targeted therapy: small molecule inhibitors, biomarkers, precision medicine
- Cancer metabolism: metabolic reprogramming, dependencies, opportunities
- Drug resistance: mechanisms, prediction, overcoming resistance
- Biomarkers: predictive, prognostic, response prediction
- Translational research: from model systems to clinical trials
Editor Insight
“Cancer Research publishes oncology research with clear cancer significance and translational potential. We seek rigorous studies validating mechanisms in vivo with clinical relevance.”
What Cancer Res. Editors Look For
Cancer mechanism with clear relevance to tumor biology or therapy
Present finding advancing cancer understanding. Novel oncogenic pathway? New resistance mechanism? Therapeutic opportunity? Show cancer significance.
Rigorous experimental validation in cell lines and animal models
Validate in 2D and 3D cell culture, xenograft or genetically engineered mouse models. In vivo validation crucial.
Mechanistic understanding of cancer process or therapeutic effect
Explain mechanisms. How does mutation drive transformation? What mediates resistance? Mechanistic insight essential.
Clinical correlation or translational pathway
Connect to patient tumors, clinical outcomes, or therapeutic strategy. Translation matters.
Comparison with existing understanding or therapeutic approaches
Show how findings differ from current knowledge. What advantages for therapy?
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Cancer Res.'s editorial review:
Cancer mechanism without clinical relevance or therapeutic potential
CR expects cancer significance. Interesting biology alone insufficient. How does finding matter for cancer patients?
Cell line studies without animal model or in vivo validation
In vivo validation essential for CR. Cell lines can be misleading. Show effect in animals or tumors.
No mechanistic explanation of cancer phenotype or therapeutic effect
Describe mechanisms. What molecular pathways? What signaling events? Mechanism crucial.
No attempt to translate findings to therapy or clinical outcome
CR values translational research. How could finding improve cancer treatment? What's clinical pathway?
Incomplete comparison with existing therapeutic approaches
Show how finding differs from current strategies. Why is this advance important?
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Cancer Res.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from Cancer Res. Authors
Novel therapeutic targets and drug sensitivity predictors highly competitive
Discoveries enabling new therapies or predicting response have immediate clinical relevance.
Resistance mechanisms and overcoming resistance increasingly valued
Drug resistance remains major clinical problem. Understanding and overcoming resistance highly competitive.
Patient-derived xenografts and human tumor models trending
More realistic tumor models (patient tumors, organoids) increasingly important.
Immunotherapy mechanisms and immune checkpoint biology valued
Understanding immunotherapy resistance and optimization increasingly important.
Precision medicine and genomic-based stratification competitive
Genomics-guided therapy and patient stratification increasingly prominent.
The Cancer Res. Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep6,000-9,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include cancer mechanism/therapy description, cell line and animal model validation, mechanistic studies, clinical correlation, comparison with existing approaches.
Submission via AACR system
Day 0Submit at https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/. Required: manuscript emphasizing cancer significance and translational potential, figures showing mechanism and validation.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses cancer novelty and clinical significance. Papers lacking in vivo validation or cancer relevance face lower priority. Selective desk rejection ~40-50%.
Peer review
100-130 days2-3 cancer biology experts assess novelty, experimental rigor, mechanistic understanding, and clinical relevance. First decision 100-130 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 4-8 weeksRevisions often request additional in vivo data, mechanism studies, or clinical correlation. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
Cancer Res. by the Numbers
| 2024 Impact Factor | 11.2 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 11.7 |
| Acceptance rate | ~15-20% |
| Desk rejection rate | ~40-50% |
| Median first decision | ~115 days |
| Open access option | $4,000 USD |
| Publisher | American Association for Cancer Research |
| Founded | 1941 |
Before you submit
Cancer Res. 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 Cancer Res.. ~30 minutes.
Article Types
Research Article
6,000-9,000 wordsCancer research with mechanism and translational relevance
Brief Communication
3,500-4,500 wordsSignificant cancer finding
Landmark Cancer Res. Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Oncogenic pathway discoveries (various) - tumor driver mechanisms
- Immunotherapy resistance mechanisms (2010s+) - overcoming resistance
- Precision medicine biomarkers (2010s+) - predicting therapy response
- Synthetic lethality and drug combinations (2010s+) - combination therapy rationale
Preparing a Cancer Res. Submission?
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Primary Fields
Related Journal Guides
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- Publishing in Clinical Cancer Research
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