Peer Review Process
Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine (CSMM) follows a structured, double-blind peer review process for every submission.
Step 1: Manuscript Submission
Authors submit their manuscript through the journal's online submission system, prepared in accordance with the Author Guidelines, with identifying author information provided separately to support double-blind review.
Step 2: Initial Evaluation
The Editor-in-Chief or a designated handling editor evaluates the submission for relevance to the journal's scope, originality, and adherence to submission guidelines. Manuscripts that do not meet these baseline criteria are rejected at this stage without proceeding to peer review.
Step 3: Plagiarism Screening
Manuscripts passing initial evaluation are screened using iThenticate, in accordance with the journal's Plagiarism Policy.
Step 4: Peer Review
Manuscripts are sent to a minimum of two independent referees with relevant subject-matter expertise, under a double-blind review model. Editors may assign additional referees where necessary.
Step 5: Author Revision
Reviewer comments and recommendations are conveyed to the corresponding author. Where revisions are required, the author must provide a point-by-point response and a revised manuscript. This process may be repeated until reviewers and editors are satisfied.
Step 6: Final Decision
Reviewer reports inform the final decision, but ultimate responsibility rests with the Editor-in-Chief, who makes the final call to accept, reject, or request further revision.
Step 7: Copyediting and Proofs
Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting for grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Galley proofs are sent to the corresponding author for final approval.
Step 8: Publication
The final article is published online and assigned a Crossref DOI, made freely available under the journal's CC BY 4.0 license.
Typical Timeline
The complete peer review process, from submission to first decision, typically takes 12–14 weeks, depending on the volume of revisions required.
