Call for Papers

Submit colorectal cancer research that advances prevention, treatment, and survivorship.

Journal of Colon and Rectal Cancer publishes clinically impactful research spanning prevention, early detection, surgical oncology, systemic therapy, and survivorship in colon and rectal cancer.

We welcome translational studies, clinical trials, real world evidence, and multidisciplinary approaches that improve patient outcomes and care delivery.

• Screening strategies and early detection
• Surgical oncology and minimally invasive techniques
• Rectal cancer staging and neoadjuvant therapy
• Molecular profiling and biomarkers
• Immunotherapy and targeted therapy
• Radiation oncology protocols and outcomes
• Metastatic disease management
• Health equity and access to colorectal care
• Survivorship, quality of life, and functional outcomes
• Real world evidence and outcomes research
• Enhanced recovery and perioperative pathways
• Multidisciplinary care coordination

• Case series with meaningful clinical implications
• Health services and implementation research
• Surgical technique or outcomes analyses
• Perspectives on policy or clinical guidelines

Use this checklist to improve clinical clarity, reproducibility, and treatment relevance for colorectal cancer studies.

• Confirm diagnosis with pathology or validated clinical criteria
• Specify tumor location and anatomic segment
• Report TNM stage and staging methodology
• Provide lymph node yield and nodal status
• Describe margin status and resection completeness
• Report MSI or MMR status when available
• Include KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutation data if tested
• Report tumor grade and histologic subtype
• Describe neoadjuvant therapy regimen and timing
• Detail surgical approach and technique
• Report perioperative complications and management
• Provide adjuvant therapy details and duration
• Include follow up timeline and surveillance protocol
• Report recurrence patterns and time to recurrence
• State survival endpoints and definitions
• Include quality of life or functional outcomes
• Describe comorbidities and concurrent treatments
• Provide sample size rationale or power calculation
• Explain statistical methods and assumptions
• Report handling of missing data
• Include ethics approvals and consent statements
• Provide data availability and repository links
• Describe imaging used for staging or response
• Report treatment adherence or protocol deviations
• Clarify any subgroup or stratified analyses
• Define response criteria and outcome thresholds
• Describe biomarkers or circulating tumor DNA methods
• Report multidisciplinary care involvement
• Include limitations and generalizability statements
• Provide interpretation aligned with clinical practice

Surgical and pathology details help clinicians and researchers compare outcomes across centers.

• Describe surgical approach: open, laparoscopic, or robotic
• Report total mesorectal excision quality for rectal cases
• Document circumferential margin status
• Report anastomotic technique and leak monitoring
• Include ostomy creation details if applicable
• Report lymphovascular and perineural invasion
• Describe tumor budding or grading systems
• Provide pathology specimen processing details
• Report number of positive lymph nodes
• Describe response grading after neoadjuvant therapy
• Include completeness of resection classification
• Report intraoperative blood loss and transfusion
• Describe perioperative recovery protocols
• Provide length of stay and readmission rates
• Report postoperative complications and severity
• Describe multidisciplinary tumor board input
• Include standardized pathology reporting templates
• Report sentinel node or mapping techniques if used
• Describe imaging for local recurrence detection
• Report functional outcomes such as bowel or continence status

Manuscripts undergo editorial screening for scope, ethics, and clinical relevance before single blind peer review.

APCs are applied after acceptance and support peer review, production, and archiving. Partial waivers and membership options are available. See https://openaccesspub.org/journal/colon-and-rectal-cancer/article-processing-charges for details.

Strong submissions articulate a clear colorectal cancer question, define the care setting, and show how findings change practice. We prioritize work with clinical endpoints, reproducible methods, and transparent reporting of staging, therapy, and outcomes.

Scope fit is highest when manuscripts connect biology, imaging, or surgical technique to patient relevant outcomes and explain how the work advances prevention, diagnosis, or treatment pathways.

• Explicit colon or rectal cancer cohort with defined inclusion criteria
• Clear staging terminology and validated outcome measures
• Well described treatment pathway or intervention strategy
• Comparators or benchmarks that reflect clinical practice
• Statistical plan aligned with clinical endpoints
• Ethics approvals and consent statements included
• Data availability or repository links provided
• Transparent reporting of complications and adverse events
• Discussion tied to guideline or care implications
• Limitations and generalizability stated clearly

We welcome biomarker and translational studies that link molecular profiles to treatment response, recurrence, or survival. Reports should describe assay validation, sensitivity, and clinical thresholds used for decision making.

When reporting ctDNA, MSI, or mutation panels, provide analytic details and explain how results inform surgical or systemic therapy choices. Clinical context is essential for translational impact.

Use established reporting standards to improve clarity and peer review speed. Trials and observational studies should include registration or registry identifiers where applicable.

• CONSORT for randomized trials and extensions when needed
• STROBE for observational and cohort studies
• PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta analyses
• STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies
• CARE for case reports when clinically justified
• Trial registration identifiers listed in the abstract

Colorectal cancer care requires attention to survivorship, quality of life, and access to care. We encourage studies that measure patient reported outcomes, functional status, and disparities in screening or treatment.

• Quality of life instruments with validated scoring
• Functional outcomes such as bowel or continence status
• Equity focused analyses by geography, race, or access
• Cost effectiveness or resource utilization metrics
• Implementation studies in diverse care settings

We encourage manuscripts that explain data sources, clinical definitions, and analytic choices with clarity. Transparent methodology helps clinicians and researchers interpret results and apply findings responsibly.

• Define inclusion and exclusion criteria for cohorts
• State staging systems and diagnostic confirmation
• Report treatment pathways and timing clearly
• Describe missing data handling and sensitivity analyses
• Explain model validation or calibration methods
• Provide reproducible code or protocol references

We value research that clarifies how interventions affect patient experience, access to care, and survivorship outcomes. Highlighting patient centered endpoints helps decision makers translate evidence into practice.

Before submitting, confirm that your manuscript clearly explains clinical context, patient population, and treatment pathway. This clarity helps editors assess scope fit quickly and ensures reviewers focus on scientific merit and clinical implications.