Publication Ethics

The Journal of Carcinogenesis Research (JCR) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct in scientific publishing. Our policies align closely with internationally recognized guidelines, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and other authoritative bodies in academic publishing. These principles are fundamental to ensuring the integrity, transparency, and scholarly merit of all research published in JCR.

1. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors submitting to JCR are expected to:

• Submit original work that is not published elsewhere nor under simultaneous consideration by other journals.
• Properly cite and acknowledge all sources to avoid plagiarism.
• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest and funding sources.
• Conduct research ethically, with documented approval from relevant institutional review boards or ethics committees for studies involving human participants or animals.
• Participate cooperatively in the peer review process, responding promptly to requests for clarifications or revisions.
• Notify the journal promptly if errors are discovered post-publication and assist in the correction or retraction process as necessary.

2. Responsibilities of Editors
The editorial board and editors ensure that:

• Manuscripts are reviewed fairly, impartially, and solely based on academic and scientific merit.
• The peer review process remains confidential, transparent, and free from external influence.
• Ethical issues, including suspected plagiarism or misconduct, are thoroughly investigated following COPE guidelines.
• Necessary corrective measures, such as corrections or retractions, are implemented when warranted.
• Confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and submitted manuscripts is strictly maintained.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers serve a critical role in maintaining JCR’s publication quality by:

• Providing constructive, objective, and timely assessments to improve manuscript quality.
• Maintaining confidentiality regarding the content and not using unpublished information for personal benefit.
• Reporting any ethical concerns, such as plagiarism or duplicate submissions, to the editors.
• Declining to review manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist, whether personal, financial, or institutional.

4. Plagiarism and Research Misconduct
JCR enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification of data.

• All manuscripts undergo plagiarism detection prior to peer review.
• Identified cases of plagiarism or data falsification will lead to rejection, retraction, or blacklisting of the authors.
• Authors must retain and provide original raw data if requested for verification purposes.

5. Data Integrity and Reproducibility
Authors must ensure:

• Accurate, verifiable, and transparent reporting of research findings.
• Availability of sufficient methodological details to allow reproducibility.
• Avoidance of selective data reporting or manipulation that could mislead readers.

6. Conflicts of Interest
Full disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest is mandatory for all authors, reviewers, and editors, including:

• Financial ties such as funding, grants, consultancies, or stock ownership.
• Personal or institutional affiliations that may bias decision-making.
• Competing research interests.
  Failure to disclose such conflicts may result in manuscript rejection or post-publication actions.

7. Retractions and Corrections
JCR follows COPE guidelines regarding post-publication changes:

• Corrections: Minor errors that do not alter conclusions will be corrected via errata.
• Retractions: Articles compromised by serious ethical breaches, such as plagiarism or falsified data, will be formally retracted with a published explanation.
• Expressions of Concern: May be issued if an investigation is ongoing.

8. Ethical Oversight in Human and Animal Research
Research involving humans or animals must comply with international and institutional ethical standards (e.g., Helsinki Declaration, ICMJE recommendations, ARRIVE guidelines).

• Documented ethical approval is required from recognized review boards.
• Informed consent must be obtained from human subjects, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.

9. Handling Complaints and Appeals
JCR is committed to a fair and transparent process for addressing complaints related to publication ethics:

• Complaints concerning editorial decisions, peer review, or ethical issues should be submitted in writing to the editorial office.
• Investigations will follow COPE procedures to ensure impartiality and fairness.
• Confirmed misconduct will result in corrective actions including retractions, notifications to institutions, or author sanctions.

10. Compliance with International Standards
JCR adheres strictly to established international ethical policies, including those of:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
• Helsinki Declaration for medical research involving human subjects
• Other relevant ethical guidelines and publishing best practices.

By rigorously applying these ethical standards, the Journal of Carcinogenesis Research ensures the credibility, reliability, and global trustworthiness of the research it publishes.