journal-of-clinical-oncology
Journal of Clinical Oncology (journal-of-clinical-oncology)
Journal positioning
The Journal of Clinical Oncology is the official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the highest-impact dedicated oncology journal. It publishes definitive clinical research across all cancer types and all phases of oncology—from prevention and screening through treatment and survivorship—with a primary readership of clinical oncologists, oncology researchers, and clinical trialists worldwide. JCO sets the standard for clinical oncology trial reporting and is the destination for results that define or redefine ASCO clinical-practice guidelines. The competitive bar is high: incremental single-arm studies, retrospective analyses of modest size, or translational studies without clinical grounding are unlikely to succeed without exceptional novelty.
This skill is a fit / venue-selection / re-framing tool. It does not replace the journal's current official submission guidelines. Before submitting, re-check the live author instructions on the ASCO/JCO site or submission system.
When to trigger
- The author names JCO as the target venue for a phase III oncology trial, definitive evidence synthesis, or ASCO-guideline-supporting analysis.
- A cancer clinical trial is practice-changing within its disease site and the author is deciding between JCO and The Lancet Oncology.
- A cancer survivorship, quality-of-life, or health-disparities study has primary oncology relevance for practising oncologists.
- The author needs JCO's desk-reject profile and credible alternatives before submitting.