1. About the Journal
The AORTIC Journal for Cancer Research (AJCR) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access publication dedicated to original research and scholarly discourse in a broad range of cancer and cardiovascular-related disciplines, particularly with relevance to Africa and the global context.
As an open-access journal, all articles are freely available upon publication, supporting wide dissemination of knowledge to researchers, clinicians, and the public. We believe this open-access model will accelerate the impact of research and support the goals of global health equity.
Article Publishing Charge (APC)
The AJCR is dedicated to removing financial barriers for authors. Currently, we do not charge any Article Publishing Charges (APCs). Your work will be published free of charge for Africans.
We believe this encourages submissions from both established researchers and early-career scientists, and supports the dissemination of high-quality research across Africa and beyond.
Please note: While APCs are currently waived, we may consider introducing reasonable fees in the future to ensure long-term sustainability. If this occurs, we will offer waivers or discounts for authors with financial needs.
2. Peer Review & Ethics
Peer Review Process
At the AJCR, we use an open peer-review policy: the identities of authors and reviewers are disclosed to each other to promote transparency, accountability, and quality of feedback.
Every manuscript first undergoes an editorial screening for suitability. Those that meet the journal's scope and standards are sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. Reviewers evaluate scientific merit, methodology, significance, and ethical integrity.
We aim to complete the initial peer-review decision within 1–2 weeks. Authors revising manuscripts should provide three documents:
- A Point-by-Point Response to all reviewer comments
- A Manuscript with Tracked Changes showing all modifications
- A Clean Manuscript incorporating all changes
Ethical Guidelines for Authors
Authors must conduct and report research in accordance with standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
- Ethics Approval and Consent: Approval from a relevant IRB/Ethics committee must be obtained and stated in the Methods section. If not required, a rationale must be given. For human subjects, informed consent must be declared.
- Clinical Trials: Trials must be registered in a public registry before first enrollment; include the registration number in the abstract.
- Competing Interests: Disclosure of any financial or non-financial interests is mandatory under a "Competing Interests" heading.
- Use of Animals and Humans: Indicate compliance with institutional/national guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki.
3. Preparing Your Paper
Manuscripts should follow the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts (ICMJE). Please follow this detailed organization to ensure a coherent presentation:
- Title Page: Title, all authors' names/affiliations, and corresponding author contact information.
- Abstract: Structured abstract (Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions), max ~300 words.
- Keywords: 5–8 MeSH-style terms; do not duplicate terms from the title.
- Main Text: Organized as follows:
- Introduction: Background and study objectives.
- Materials and Methods: Experimental design, procedures, materials, enabling replication.
- Results: Clear presentation of findings, supported by tables/figures.
- Discussion: Interpretation of results, comparison to literature.
- Limitations: Acknowledge factors influencing interpretation.
- Conclusion: Summarize findings, implications, and future research.
- Mandatory Declarations: Ethics Approval, Data Availability, Competing Interests, Funding, and Authors' Contributions.
- References: Vancouver style.
- Assets: Tables each on a separate page; Figures listed with captions separately at the end.
4. Article Types & Limits
To ensure consistency, the journal stipulates the following limits for standard submissions:
Original Research
Narrative Review
Systematic Review
Clinical Trial
Perspective / Opinion
Editorial / Letter
* Authors should indicate the word count at time of submission. Exceptional content may warrant limits being exceeded on a case-by-case basis.
5. Journal Policies
Plagiarism & Similarity
The AJCR uses detection tools (e.g., Turnitin). A maximum similarity index of 10% is permitted.
AI Chatbots Usage
Use of AI-powered chatbots and generative tools is permitted only for language polishing or clarity enhancement. They must not be used to write substantial sections of the manuscript. AI-generated content must remain below 10%.
Data Sharing & Transparency
Authors are strongly encouraged to deposit datasets in recognized repositories. A Data Availability Statement is mandatory for all primary research papers.
Third-Party Material
It is mandatory to obtain written permission for any third-party material you intend to reuse (including photos, datasets, or long text extracts).
6. Final Checklist
Please ensure all submissions meet the following requirements: