Submissions

Articles

Research article 

Research Articles are original, peer-reviewed contributions that present significant advances in cancer biology, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy, or targeted therapeutic strategies. Articles must offer new data, insights, or interpretations supported by rigorous experimental or computational methodology. 

• Word Limit: The main text (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) must not exceed 5,000 words, not including References.
• Figures and Tables: A combined maximum of 8 figures and/or tables is allowed. Additional data or complex visualizations may be included as supplementary material. Embed figures and tables in the body of the text after the first mention. Clearly labeled in sequence: e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2A–B. For each figure, include a clear title and a legend caption. The caption should appear immediately below the figure in the Word document. Acceptable formats: high-resolution (≥300 dpi) images, tables only in Word (not images).
• Abstract: Structured abstracts should be limited to 250 words and divided into labeled sections that summarize key parts of the manuscript. Common section headings include Background, Methods, Results, and Discussion (Conclusions).
• Keywords: Authors are required to provide 6-8 keywords. Keywords should be written in English and avoid using keywords that consist of multiple words. 
• Material and methods: The section should provide sufficient detail to allow others to replicate the findings, while avoiding unnecessary elaboration on standard procedures. Commonly used techniques (e.g., Western blotting, cloning, qPCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence) should be referenced by name only, without detailed step-by-step protocols, unless a novel modification has been introduced. Authors must provide sufficient detail to ensure reproducibility, including but not limited to primer sequences, antibody catalog numbers and vendors for all immunodetection procedures, cell line names and their source (including the original repository or supplier and authentication status), and plasmid vectors or constructs with source information (e.g., Addgene ID, originating lab, or commercial provider). Authors must also include details of experimental controls, the number of biological replicates, statistical methods, and software versions used in data analysis. 

The Materials and Methods section may contain standardized descriptions of widely used techniques and protocols. As such, this section is not subject to plagiarism in the conventional sense, provided the text accurately and appropriately describes established methods. Authors may reuse standard formulations for methodological descriptions when necessary for clarity and must properly cite sources. Any customized or novel modifications to methods must be identified and described in the authors' own words.

• References: The number of references cited in a research manuscript must be limited to a maximum of 50. Authors are expected to cite only the most relevant, high-quality, and recent publications directly supporting the study’s rationale, methodology, findings, and interpretation.
• Supplementary Material: Extended data, additional figures, detailed methods, and raw datasets may be submitted as supplementary files, which will be reviewed alongside the main manuscript.

Review

Review article

Review articles generally fall into two categories: descriptive/comprehensive and critical. 

Critical reviews: These articles rigorously evaluate key advances, identifying gaps in knowledge and highlighting emerging trends and challenges. They provide analysis of future research directions and contribute to guiding the evolution of the field. Critical reviews are generally more focused and more concise than descriptive/comprehensive reviews. This type of review demands a high level of insight, expertise, and knowledge and should be authored by recognized experts in the field. Critical reviews are often commissioned by the editors.

Comprehensive review: The main purpose is to summarize and organize existing published literature on a broad topic, providing readers with a comprehensive overview without extensive personal analysis or interpretation. These reviews serve as valuable reference tools for researchers, clinicians, or trainees who are new to a particular field. 

• Word Limit: The main text (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) must not exceed 10,000 words, not including References. The introduction should start with a paragraph on Historical Context (Discovery and Evolution of the Field).
• Figures and Tables: A combined minimum of 4 and maximum of 6 figures and/or tables is allowed. Authors of non-research articles, such as reviews, can include figures and tables that have been previously published in other journals, provided they confirm on submission that permission has been obtained from the original publisher (if applicable) and cite the original article. 
• Abstract: Abstracts should be unstructured, limited to 250 words, and written as a single paragraph with no subheadings.
• Keywords: Authors are required to provide 6-8 keywords. Keywords should be written in English and avoid keywords consisting of multiple words.
• References: Authors submitting review articles are encouraged to choose broad topics, providing an in-depth synthesis of current knowledge in the field. To ensure a thorough and up-to-date perspective, a minimum of 150+ references should be included, emphasizing recent publications that reflect the latest scientific developments. 

Commentary

Commentary

Commentaries are short, invited-only articles that provide an expert perspective on a recently published study in the Cancer Biome and Targeted Therapy journal. These are typically reserved for one of the peer reviewers, selected by the editors based on their subject expertise and ability to contextualize the work within the broader field. The invitation to write a commentary is extended only after the peer review process has concluded and a final decision has been made on the manuscript. This ensures that the integrity and confidentiality of the peer review process are fully maintained. Reviewers invited to write a commentary must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and must not reveal their role in the peer review process within the published article. 

• Authors: Commentaries have a limit of three authors.
• Word Limit: Text must not exceed 800 words. There is no abstract and no subheadings.
• Figures and Tables: A maximum of one figure or one table is allowed.
• References: A maximum of five references.

Brief Reports

Reports

Reports are concise articles that communicate focused experimental findings or novel observations of high interest to the field. These reports are intended for data sets that are limited in scope but scientifically and clinically relevant. Examples include, but are not limited to, the identification of novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or therapeutic response; the discovery of new genetic or epigenetic alterations; the development of innovative assays or experimental techniques; early preclinical findings from emerging therapeutic agents; unexpected mechanistic insights from small-scale studies; or validation of key biological targets using limited but robust data sets.

• Word Limit: The main text (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) must not exceed 2,000 words, not including References.
• Figures and Tables: A combined maximum of 4 figures and/or tables is allowed. Additional data or complex visualizations may be included as supplementary material. Embed figures and tables in the body of the text after the first mention. Clearly labeled in sequence: e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2A–B. For each figure, include a clear title and a legend caption. The caption should appear immediately below the figure in the Word document. Acceptable formats: high-resolution (≥300 dpi) images, tables only in Word (not images).
• Abstract: Structured abstracts should be limited to 250 words and divided into labeled sections that summarize key parts of the manuscript. Common section headings include Background, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
• Keywords: Authors are required to provide 6-8 keywords. Keywords should be written in English and avoid keywords consisting of multiple words. 
• Material and methods: The section should provide sufficient detail to allow others to replicate the findings, while avoiding unnecessary elaboration on standard procedures. 
• References: The number of references cited in a research manuscript must be limited to a maximum of 30. 
• Supplemental files are not admitted.