Content Types

To submit one of the following content types, please read the formatting details below, then follow the submission guidelines. The journal considers clinical work under all content types. More information on relevant policies can be found in the dedicated clinical research page.

  • Article
  • Analysis
  • Brief Communication
  • Resource
  • Technical Report
  • Correspondence*
  • Review*
  • Perspective*
  • Comment*
  • Matters Arising – see specialist submission process here.

For more information on these content types, please contact Nature Cancer:

  • News & Views*
  • Cancer in Translation*    
  • News Feature*
  • Clinical Outlook*
  • Turning Point*
  • World View*
  • Viewpoint*

*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings or new research data. As they are non-primary articles they are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.

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Article

An Article is a substantial novel research study of high quality and general interest to the broad cancer community, with a complex story often involving several techniques or approaches. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 4,000 words, excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends.
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – 5-8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Article should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Online Methods. ​
  • Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 60.
  • Articles include received/accepted dates. 
  • Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Articles are peer reviewed.

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 Analysis

An Analysis is a new analysis of existing data or describes new data obtained in a comparative analysis that leads to novel and arresting conclusions of importance to a broad audience. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
  • Abstract – 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – 5-8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Analysis articles should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Methods. ​
  • Results and online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.  
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 60.
  • Analyses include received/accepted dates. 
  • Analyses may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Analyses are peer reviewed.

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Brief Communication

A Brief Communication reports a concise study of high quality and broad interest. 

Format

  • Brief unreferenced abstract – 3 sentences, up to 70 words.
  • Title – up to 10 words (or 90 characters). 
  • Main text – 1,000-1,500 words, including abstract, references and figure legends, and contains no headings. 
  • Display items – up to 2 items, although this may be flexible at the discretion of the editor, provided the page limit is observed. 
  • Methods section should be included. 
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 20. Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
  • Brief Communications should include received/accepted dates. 
  • Brief Communications may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Brief Communications are peer reviewed.

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Resource

A Resource presents a large dataset of broad utility, interest and significance to the community. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
  • Abstract – 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – 5-8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Resource articles should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Methods. ​
  • Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 60.
  • Resources include received/accepted dates. 
  • Resources may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Resources are peer reviewed.

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Technical Report 

A Technical Report presents primary research data on a new technique that is likely to be influential. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
  • Abstract – 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – 5-8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Technical reports should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Methods. ​
  • Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 60.
  • Technical Reports include received/accepted dates. 
  • Technical Reports may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Technical Reports are peer reviewed.

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Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on issues relevant to the journal’s community. This format may not be used for presentation of research data or analysis. 

Format

  • Correspondence – between 300-800 words.
  • Display items – 1 item.
  • References – up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. 
  • Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion. 

Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers; these should be submitted as Matters Arising.

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Review

A Review is an authoritative, balanced survey of recent developments in a research field. Although Reviews should be recognized as scholarly by specialists in the field, they should be written with a view to informing non-specialist readers. Thus, Reviews should be presented in simple prose, avoiding excessive jargon and technical detail.

The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.

Reviews are typically invited by the editors, so it is advisable to send a presubmission enquiry including a synopsis before preparing a manuscript for formal submission. Systematic Reviews must follow PRISMA guidelines. 

Format

  • Main text – 3,500-6,000 words.
  • 4-6 display items (figures, tables and boxes)
  • References – as a general guideline up to 150 or approximately 25 references per 1000 words (exceptions are possible in special cases). 
  • Reviews include received/accepted dates. 
  • Reviews are peer reviewed.

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Perspective

A Perspective is intended to provide a forum for authors to discuss models and ideas from a personal viewpoint. They are more forward-looking and/or speculative than Reviews and may take a narrower field of view. They may be opinionated but should remain balanced, and are intended to stimulate discussion and new research efforts. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives. As with Reviews, many Perspectives are invited by the editors, so it is advisable to send a pre-submission enquiry including a synopsis before preparing a manuscript for formal submission.

Format

  • Length – 3,000-4,000 words.
  • 2-4 display items (figures, tables and boxes).
  • References – as a general guideline  up to 100 or approximately 25 references per 1000 words (exceptions are possible in special cases).
  • Perspectives include received/accepted dates.
  • Perspectives are peer reviewed.

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Comment

A Comment is a very flexible format, focusing on the scientific, commercial, ethical, legal, societal, or political issues surrounding research. Comment articles should be topical, readable, provocative and introduce new concepts/points of view, providing a personal perspective on a matter of public or scientific importance. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. 

Format

  • Length – varies but typically 1,500 words.
  • There are no specific structural guidelines, but Comment articles may be divided into sections and may include display items (figures, tables and boxes).
  • Comments do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present schematics, illustrations and re-analysed data, the latter at the editors’ discretion.
  • References should be used sparingly – up to 15.
  • Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
  • Peer review is at the editors' discretion.

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Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Cancer. These comments should ideally be based on contemporary knowledge rather than subsequent scientific developments.

For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.

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News & Views

News & Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in cancer research, as reported in recently published papers or at scientific meetings. They may be linked to articles in Nature Cancer, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals. News and Views are not peer reviewed.

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Cancer in Translation

Related to News & Views, this article type presents the ‘bench’ and ‘bedside’ viewpoints relating to an exciting new development in translational and clinical cancer research recently published in Nature Cancer or elsewhere. Cancer in Translation articles are not peer reviewed and are exclusively commissioned by the editors. 

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News Feature

A News Feature is a journalistic piece that encompasses both the technical and commercial aspects of any topic relevant to our readership. This format is intended to complement the emerging scientific developments reported in the research section, and also to provide a forum for regulatory and business topics that would otherwise not be covered in the journal. 

News Features are commissioned exclusively by the editors. Nature Cancer welcomes ideas for future topics from freelance journalists at cancer@nature.com. 

Format

  • Length – flexible, but typically up to 3,000 words.
  • Use of tables and figures is encouraged, but not necessary.
  • Written in a journalistic style, accessible to a wide range of non-specialist readers. 

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Clinical Outlook

A Clinical Outlook provides a timely, focused discussion of the clinical progress in a specific topic of interest that presents an unmet medical need, such as ongoing or recently completed clinical trials or other notable clinically-relevant developments for a particular cancer type, treatment modality, or molecular target. These articles should be of immediate interest to a broad readership that includes translational and clinical scientists and are exclusively commissioned by the editors. 

Format

  • Length – varies but typically 1,500 words.
  • Clinical Outlooks are divided into sections and include display items (figures, tables and boxes).
  • Clinical Outlooks do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present schematics, illustrations and re-analysed data, the latter at the editors’ discretion.
  • References should be used sparingly, as a guideline up to 15 references.
  • Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
  • Peer review is at the editors' discretion.

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Turning Points

Turning Points are personal essays that focus on the recollection of pivotal events that changed the author’s path in science. Turning Points are typically ~900 words, are exclusively commissioned by the editors and are not peer-reviewed.

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World Views

World Views are by prior arrangement only. World Views are opinion pieces, written in a personal style, on a topic of broad community or societal significance. Unsolicited contributions are considered at the editor’s discretion, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals. World Views are not peer reviewed.

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Viewpoints

Viewpoints provide a forum for several researchers to express their opinion or discuss in Q&A format, issues associated with a specific topic of interest. Viewpoint articles are exclusively commissioned by the editors and are not peer-reviewed.