What is the impact factor of Clinical Cancer Research?

Clinical Cancer Research has an impact factor of 10.2 (2024). This places it among the top-tier journals in its field with Clinical Cancer Research published by the American Association for Cancer Research is the premier journal for clinical oncology research.

How long does Clin. Cancer Res. take to review?

Clinical Cancer Research typically takes ~100-130 days median. The full review process involves 5 main stages: manuscript preparation, submission via aacr system, and peer review.

Is Clinical Cancer Research peer reviewed?

Yes, Clinical Cancer Research is fully peer reviewed. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by 2-3 clinical oncology experts assess study design, statistical rigor, clinical significance, and outcomes importance. First decision 100-130 days..

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Clinical Cancer Research Impact Factor 10.2: Publishing Guide

Q: What is the acceptance rate of Clinical Cancer Research?

Clinical Cancer Research has an acceptance rate of ~20-30%. A common reason for rejection is basic biology without direct clinical relevance or patient outcome data. CCR expects clinical relevance. Lab findings alone insufficient. How do results affect patients?

Clinical cancer research: treatment outcomes, biomarkers, and translational trials

10.2

Impact Factor (2024)

~20-30%

Acceptance Rate

~100-130 days median

Time to First Decision

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

Editor Insight

“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 quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Clin. Cancer Res.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.

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Insider Tips from Clin. Cancer Res. Authors

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

Prep

6,000-9,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include patient cohort description, outcome measurements, biomarker characterization, statistical analysis, clinical implications.

Submission via AACR system

Day 0

Submit 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 weeks

Editor 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 days

2-3 clinical oncology experts assess study design, statistical rigor, clinical significance, and outcomes importance. First decision 100-130 days.

Revision and publication

Revision: 4-8 weeks

Revisions often request additional outcome analysis, biomarker validation, or diversity discussion. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.

Clin. Cancer Res. by the Numbers

2024 Impact Factor	10.1
5-Year Impact Factor	10.5
Acceptance rate	~20-30%
Desk rejection rate	~30-40%
Median first decision	~115 days
Open access option	$4,000 USD
Publisher	American Association for Cancer Research
Founded	1995

Before you submit

Clin. 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 Clin. Cancer Res.. ~30 minutes.

Run Free Readiness Scan See a sample report

Article Types

Clinical Trial

6,000-9,000 words

Cancer clinical trial with outcome and biomarker data

Translational Research

6,000-9,000 words

Clinical-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

Clinical TrialsBiomarkersTreatment OutcomesImmunotherapyPrecision MedicineSurvivorship

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