Aims & Scope
Journal of Colon and Rectal Cancer (JCRC) publishes mechanistic research elucidating the molecular pathophysiology, biomarker discovery, and disease mechanisms underlying colorectal malignancies and related gastrointestinal pathologies.
Research ScopeTiered Structure
Molecular Pathogenesis
- Oncogenic signaling pathways in colorectal carcinogenesis
- Genetic and epigenetic alterations driving tumor initiation
- Microsatellite instability and DNA mismatch repair mechanisms
- Chromosomal instability pathways
- Tumor suppressor gene inactivation mechanisms
- Proto-oncogene activation and mutation profiles
"Elucidating the role of APC/β-catenin pathway dysregulation in adenoma-carcinoma sequence through organoid models and mechanistic validation"
Biomarker Discovery & Validation
- Molecular biomarkers for disease stratification
- Circulating tumor DNA and liquid biopsy markers
- Protein and metabolite signatures in disease progression
- MicroRNA and non-coding RNA biomarkers
- Tumor microenvironment biomarkers
- Predictive and prognostic molecular indicators
"Identification and validation of novel serum metabolite panels distinguishing Lynch syndrome-associated from sporadic colorectal cancer through metabolomic profiling"
Tumor Microenvironment Dynamics
- Immune cell infiltration patterns and mechanisms
- Stromal-epithelial interactions in tumor progression
- Angiogenesis and vascular remodeling pathways
- Extracellular matrix remodeling mechanisms
- Cancer-associated fibroblast activation
- Inflammatory signaling in tumorigenesis
"Mechanistic analysis of CAF-derived exosomal miRNAs promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells"
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pathophysiology
- Molecular mechanisms of chronic intestinal inflammation
- Epithelial barrier dysfunction in IBD
- Immune dysregulation pathways in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Microbiome-host interactions in IBD pathogenesis
- IBD-associated colorectal cancer molecular mechanisms
- Fibrosis and stricture formation pathways
"Characterization of NOD2 pathway alterations and downstream inflammatory cascades in Crohn's disease-associated dysplasia"
Secondary Focus AreasCross-Disciplinary
Metastatic Mechanisms
Molecular pathways governing colorectal cancer metastasis to liver, lung, and distant organs; circulating tumor cell biology; metastatic niche formation mechanisms
Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
Molecular characterization of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Lynch syndrome, and other hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes; germline mutation effects on cellular pathways
Therapeutic Resistance Mechanisms
Molecular basis of chemoresistance and targeted therapy resistance; adaptive cellular responses to therapeutic pressure; resistance biomarker identification
Immunological Mechanisms
Immune evasion strategies; checkpoint molecule expression patterns; tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte dysfunction mechanisms; immunosuppressive pathway activation
Metabolic Reprogramming
Altered metabolic pathways in colorectal cancer cells; Warburg effect mechanisms; lipid metabolism dysregulation; metabolic dependencies and vulnerabilities
Stem Cell Biology
Cancer stem cell identification and characterization; stem cell niche dynamics; self-renewal pathway mechanisms; differentiation hierarchy disruption
Emerging Research FrontiersSelective
High-Impact Emerging Areas
Article Types & Priorities
Priority 1: Fast-Track Review
ExpeditedPriority 2: Standard Review
RegularRarely Considered
SelectiveEditorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- ARRIVE guidelines for animal studies
- MIQE guidelines for qPCR experiments
- REMARK guidelines for biomarker studies
- PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews
- STROBE guidelines for observational studies
Data Transparency
- Raw data deposition in public repositories
- Omics data in GEO, ArrayExpress, or SRA
- Protein data in ProteomeXchange
- Code availability for computational analyses
- Material availability statements required
Ethics & Integrity
- IRB/Ethics committee approval for human samples
- IACUC approval for animal experiments
- Informed consent documentation
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Adherence to Helsinki Declaration principles
Preprint & Prior Publication
- Preprints on bioRxiv/medRxiv accepted
- Conference abstracts do not preclude submission
- No prior publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Preprint DOI must be disclosed at submission
- Significant revisions from preprint expected
Decision Metrics
Ready to Submit Your Research?
If your work elucidates molecular mechanisms, identifies novel biomarkers, or advances mechanistic understanding of colorectal pathophysiology, we want to hear from you.
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