Journal Guide
Publishing in Clinical Cancer Research: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide
Clinical cancer research: treatment outcomes, biomarkers, and translational trials
Should you submit here?
10.9
Impact Factor
Not published by the journal
Acceptance Rate
35 days with review; 3.8 days without review (medians)
Time to First Decision
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What Clin. Cancer Res. Publishes
Clinical Cancer Research published by the American Association for Cancer Research is the premier journal for clinical oncology research. With JIF 10.2 and Q1 ranking in Oncology, CCR emphasizes rigorous clinical research on cancer treatment, outcomes, and biomarkers. The journal publishes research on clinical trials, translational studies, and patient-derived investigations. Critically: CCR values research with direct patient relevance and clinical implications. Basic biology studies without clear clinical connection are less competitive. The journal seeks papers advancing cancer treatment and understanding patient outcomes.
- Clinical trials: efficacy, safety, response assessment, biomarker-driven trials
- Treatment outcomes: survival, progression-free survival, patient-reported outcomes
- Biomarkers: predictive, prognostic, genomic, protein-based
- Immunotherapy outcomes: response prediction, resistance, checkpoint inhibitors
- Precision medicine: genomic testing, treatment selection, personalized therapy
- Patient-derived studies: tumor sequencing, chemosensitivity, patient outcomes
- Cancer survivorship: long-term toxicity, quality of life, second malignancies
- Population health: epidemiology, disparities, outcomes across patient groups
Manusights editorial analysis
CCR publishes clinical oncology advancing treatment and outcomes. We seek rigorous studies with adequate sample size, clinical significance, and patient-centered outcomes.
What Clin. Cancer Res. Editors Look For
Clinical finding advancing cancer treatment or patient outcomes
Present research improving therapies, predicting response, or understanding outcomes. New treatment benefit? Better biomarker? Improved survival understanding? Show clinical significance.
Rigorous clinical data with adequate sample size and follow-up
Sufficient patient numbers for statistical power. Adequate follow-up for outcome maturation. Real clinical data or large retrospective studies.
Biomarker validation or mechanistic understanding of treatment response
Connect biomarkers to outcomes. Explain response mechanisms. Validation across independent cohorts strengthens biomarker papers.
Translational integration of basic findings with clinical outcomes
Connect laboratory discoveries to patient outcomes. Show how understanding translates to treatment improvement.
Equity and outcome disparities addressed or populations studied
Consider diverse populations. Address whether findings apply across racial, ethnic, socioeconomic groups.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Clin. Cancer Res.'s editorial review:
Basic biology without direct clinical relevance or patient outcome data
CCR expects clinical relevance. Lab findings alone insufficient. How do results affect patients?
Small sample sizes or inadequate follow-up for clinical significance
Clinical studies require adequate power and follow-up. Small cohorts or short follow-up unconvincing.
Biomarker claims without independent validation
Biomarkers must validate in independent cohorts. Single-cohort discovery insufficient.
No discussion of clinical implications or treatment recommendations
Connect findings to clinical practice. How should clinicians use this information?
Ignoring patient diversity and outcomes across demographic groups
Consider whether findings apply to all patient populations. Address disparities.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Clin. Cancer Res.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Manusights submission tips for Clin. Cancer Res.
Predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response highly competitive
Predicting checkpoint inhibitor response has high clinical utility. Biomarkers enabling treatment selection valued.
Real-world evidence and outcomes research increasingly important
Patient registry and real-world data increasingly competitive as healthcare focuses on outcomes.
Long-term toxicity and survivorship increasingly emphasized
Long-term treatment complications and quality of life increasingly important to clinical oncology.
Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life data valued
Patient-centered outcomes and quality of life increasingly emphasized in modern oncology.
Diversity and disparities increasingly highlighted
Examining outcomes across racial, ethnic, socioeconomic groups increasingly important.
The Clin. Cancer Res. Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep6,000-9,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include patient cohort description, outcome measurements, biomarker characterization, statistical analysis, clinical implications.
Submission via AACR system
Day 0Submit at https://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/. Required: manuscript emphasizing clinical significance, figures showing outcomes and biomarker data, cover letter highlighting patient impact.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses clinical novelty and significance. Papers lacking adequate sample size or clinical relevance face lower priority. Selective desk rejection ~30-40%.
Peer review
100-130 days2-3 clinical oncology experts assess study design, statistical rigor, clinical significance, and outcomes importance. First decision 100-130 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 4-8 weeksRevisions often request additional outcome analysis, biomarker validation, or diversity discussion. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
Clin. Cancer Res. by the Numbers
| 2025 Impact Factor(2026 JCR release) | 10.9 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 10.5 |
| Acceptance rate | Not published by the journal |
| Desk rejection rate | ~30-40% |
| Median first decision(AACR Manuscript Turnaround Guarantee, checked 2026-10-10) | 35 days with review; 3.8 days without review (medians) |
| Open access option(AACR publication fees and reprints, checked 2026-10-10) | $7,000 / $8,000 |
| Publisher | American Association for Cancer Research |
| Founded | 1995 |
Before you submit
Clin. Cancer Res. accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
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Article Types
Clinical Trial
6,000-9,000 wordsCancer clinical trial with outcome and biomarker data
Translational Research
6,000-9,000 wordsClinical-laboratory integrated study
Landmark Clin. Cancer Res. Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Immunotherapy trial results (2010s+) - checkpoint inhibitor outcomes
- Biomarker-driven trial designs (2010s+) - precision oncology validation
- Long-term survivorship outcomes (various) - late toxicity and quality of life
- Patient diversity in outcomes (2010s+) - addressing disparities
Preparing a Clin. Cancer Res. Submission?
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Primary Fields
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Related Journal Guides
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Latest Journal-Specific Guides
- Submission guideClinical Cancer Research Submission Guide: Requirements & TimelineA practical Clinical Cancer Research submission guide focused on package readiness, translational fit, and what should already be true before upload.
- Journal assessmentIs Clinical Cancer Research a Good Journal? Fit VerdictClinical Cancer Research fit verdict for translational oncology, including when Cancer Discovery, Cancer Research, JCO, or a specialty journal fits better.
- Desk rejectionHow to Avoid Desk Rejection at Clinical Cancer ResearchHow to avoid desk rejection at Clinical Cancer Research: translational depth, stronger models, and patient-facing logic.
- Review timelineClinical Cancer Research Review Time: What Authors Can Actually ExpectClinical Cancer Research can reject weak translational packages early, but manuscripts that survive review still move on a multi-week oncology timeline.
More Guides for This Journal
- Acceptance rateClinical Cancer Research Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can UseClinical Cancer Research does not publish a strong official acceptance rate. The better submission question is whether the study bridges laboratory cancer science and clinical application at the AACR translational standard.
- Impact factorClinical Cancer Research Impact Factor 2026: 10.9, Q1, Rank 29/326Clinical Cancer Research impact factor is 10.9 with a 5-year JIF of 11.6. See rank, trend, and what it means before submission.
- Publishing costsClinical Cancer Research APC and Open Access: AACR's Translational Bridge at Moderate CostClinical Cancer Research (AACR) charges $7,000-$8,000 for open access. Hybrid model, AACR member discounts, display item fees, and peer journal comparison.
- Submission processClinical Cancer Research Submission Process: Submission GuideA practical Clinical Cancer Research submission process guide focused on what happens after upload, what editors test first, and how to interpret early movement.
- Manuscript prepClinical Cancer Research Cover Letter: What Editors Actually Need to SeeClinical Cancer Research editors are screening for a real bench-to-bedside or bedside-to-bench bridge. A strong cover letter makes that translational logic obvious fast.
- Publishing guideClinical Cancer Research Formatting Requirements: Complete Author GuideClinical Cancer Research lists 5,000 words, 50 references, and 6 tables or figures for Articles, with a 250-word structured abstract and a 120 to 150-word Translational Relevance statement. AACR treats these as size recommendations that are not enforced for initial submissions.
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