Peer Review

Peer-review process and policy

Review model

Cancer Biome and Targeted Therapy (CBTT) uses a single-blind peer review process (also called single-anonymized review). In this system, reviewers remain anonymous to the authors, enabling fair and unbiased evaluations, while reviewers are aware of the authors’ identities. This model is widely accepted in scientific publishing, as it promotes reviewer accountability and helps reduce author bias.

Review process

Each submission is first assessed by the editorial office for basic suitability. This initial pre-check includes:

  • Formatting and style compliance
  • Language clarity
  • Reference quality
  • Plagiarism detection
  • Image integrity review

If the manuscript passes this screening, it is assigned to an editor (Senior or Associate) to oversee peer review. At least two independent reviewer reports are required before an editorial decision is made. Reviewers are selected based on subject expertise, independence, and experience (see [Conflict of Interest Policy]).

The final decision, acceptance, revision, or rejection, is made by the handling editor, based on the reviewers’ evaluations and journal standards.

Review Timelines

Initial editorial decision within 3–5 days. After assignment to an Editor, initial peer review is expected to be completed within 4–6 weeks.

Reviewer Suggestions and Exclusions

As part of the submission process, authors may recommend up to five qualified reviewers in their cover letter. Suggested reviewers must:

  • Be experts in the relevant field
  • Have no recent collaborations with the authors (within the last three years)
  • Be unaffiliated with the authors’ institutions

For each suggested reviewer, please provide the full name, institutional affiliation, institutional (not personal) email address, and a statement confirming the absence of any conflicts of interest. Reviewers with a verified ORCID ID are preferred.

Authors may also request that up to two individuals not be considered as reviewers due to potential conflicts. These exclusions must be justified and reasonable.

Final selection of reviewers is at the sole discretion of the editorial team. Editors may use the suggested reviewers, select alternatives, or a combination of both.

Reviewers Selection Criteria

  • Must be a registered reviewer on the CBTT platform
  • Must have completed a PhD or an MD degree
  • Must have a valid ORCID ID
  • Must have published at least 1 article in a peer-reviewed journal in the last 2 years
  • Must have an h-index above 5
  • Must declare COI, see Conflict of Interest Policy

Reviewer accounts using personal email addresses or invalid ORCID IDs may be revoked.

Public Peer Review Statement

CBTT is committed to transparent and fair peer review. While reviews remain confidential, we are exploring initiatives to increase transparency over time (e.g., reviewer recognition or published review histories).

Confidentiality

All manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers must not share or discuss the content with others unless authorized by the editorial office. Any concerns about ethics, originality, or data integrity should be reported directly to: submissions@cancerbiometherapy.com.

Editors Roles

Senior Editor 

The journal is led by a group of Senior Editors who share equal responsibility for editorial leadership and oversight.

  • Provide overall strategic direction and define editorial scope
  • Handle peer review and make independent final decisions on manuscripts
  • Ensure adherence to COPE and ICMJE guidelines
  • Manage editorial board appointments and journal policy updates
  • Investigate potential ethical concerns and approve corrections or retractions

CBTT does not designate a single Editor-in-Chief. Instead, all Senior Editors function with equal authority to safeguard editorial independence and distributed governance. Submissions from senior editors are handled by an independent member of the editorial team to ensure impartiality. The assigned editor’s identity is not disclosed to the submitting senior editor, who does not take part in any decisions regarding their own work.

Associate Editors

  • Independently manage the peer review process for assigned submissions
  • Select reviewers and make final editorial decisions (accept, revise, reject)
  • Contribute to editorial policies and thematic issues
  • Collaborate with Senior Editors on decisions regarding appeals or ethical issues

This helps eliminate any concern that a limited group of people is solely responsible for content decisions. Submissions from associate editors are handled by an independent member of the editorial team to ensure impartiality. The assigned editor’s identity is not disclosed to the submitting associate editor, who does not take part in any decisions regarding their own work.

Editorial board members

  • Occasionally, review a submitted manuscript if specific expertise is needed
  • Propose a special issue (Special Topics) in consultation with the associate editors. Final decisions can only be made by associate/senior editors.
  • Promote the journal in their professional networks, conferences, and institutions
  • Encourage high-quality submissions from colleagues and collaborators

Submissions from board members are assigned to independent editors to avoid conflicts of interest.

Guest Editors

  • Guest Editors may be invited to lead a special issue focused on a defined theme within the journal’s scope. 
  • Identify and invite contributors, including leading researchers, to submit high-quality manuscripts aligned with the issue’s topic.
  • Promote the special issue within their professional network to encourage scholarly participation.

Guest Editors do not handle peer review and do not make any editorial decisions. All submissions to Special Issues are handled by CBTT’s editorial team to ensure rigorous, impartial peer review.

Appeal to decision

Authors may submit one formal appeal per submission if they believe a decision was made in error. Appeals must follow the Appeals Policy and will be reviewed by a Senior Editor not involved in the original decision.  If you have any questions about the review or appeal process, contact the editorial office at: submissions@cancerbiometherapy.com.

Last updated: August 2025