The Journal of Cancer Research (JCR) relies on the expertise, integrity, and dedication of its editors to uphold the highest standards of scholarly publishing. Editors play a critical role in ensuring that all manuscripts are evaluated fairly, transparently, and with scientific rigor. The following guidelines are designed to support editors in carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

✦ Editorial Responsibilities:

1. Manuscript Evaluation
   • Assess whether submissions fit within the journal’s scope and meet basic quality standards.
   • Ensure that manuscripts are free from obvious ethical violations (plagiarism, duplicate submission, or data manipulation).
   • Decide whether a manuscript should be sent for peer review or returned to the authors without external review.
2. Peer Review Management
   • Select qualified and independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the manuscript.
   • Maintain the integrity of the double-blind peer review process by keeping author and reviewer identities confidential.
   • Monitor the timeliness and quality of reviewer reports, encouraging constructive and respectful feedback.
3. Decision Making
   • Make editorial decisions (accept, revise, or reject) based on the reviewers’ comments, scientific merit, and overall contribution to the field.
   • Clearly communicate the editorial decision to authors, providing a balanced summary of the reviewers’ feedback.
   • Ensure decisions are unbiased and based solely on academic merit.
4. Ethical Oversight
   • Investigate and address potential ethical issues, including plagiarism, authorship disputes, or data integrity concerns.
   • Consult with the Editorial Board or SCICONX Publishing if misconduct is suspected.
   • Follow the guidelines set by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) for handling ethical matters.

✦ Standards of Conduct:

• Confidentiality: Editors must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors should decline handling a manuscript if there is any personal, professional, or financial conflict of interest.
• Fairness & Impartiality: Editorial decisions must not be influenced by authors’ nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.
• Transparency: Editors should document and communicate decisions clearly to maintain trust in the editorial process.

✦ Editorial Workflow:

1. Initial Screening: Evaluate manuscripts for relevance, originality, and adherence to journal guidelines.
2. Reviewer Assignment: Invite at least two qualified reviewers, avoiding conflicts of interest.
3. Monitoring Review: Ensure reviews are returned on time and address scientific quality and clarity.
4. Decision Drafting: Recommend acceptance, revision, or rejection, supported by reviewer reports.
5. Final Approval: The Editor-in-Chief or assigned Section Editor makes the final decision.

✦ Communication with Authors & Reviewers

• Provide authors with constructive and respectful feedback, even in cases of rejection.
• Acknowledge reviewers’ contributions and ensure their anonymity is preserved.
• Maintain professionalism in all editorial communications.

✦ Continuous Improvement:

Editors are encouraged to:

• Stay updated on current trends and breakthroughs in oncology.
• Participate in editorial training, workshops, and discussions organized by SCICONX Publishing.
• Suggest innovations to improve the journal’s quality, efficiency, and visibility.

✦ Support for Editors:

The editorial team and SCICONX Publishing provide:

• Access to an online manuscript management system.
• Resources for ethical publishing and reviewer management.
• Ongoing training and guidance to maintain editorial excellence.

By following these instructions, editors help ensure that the Journal of Cancer Research remains a trusted and respected platform for advancing cancer science and improving patient outcomes worldwide.