For Authors

Central Asian Cancer Sciences publishes quarterly — 4 issues per year.

1. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

Language

Manuscripts must be written in clear, concise English. Either British or American English may be used, but spelling, grammar, and terminology must be consistent throughout the manuscript.

Authors who are not proficient in English are encouraged to obtain professional language editing before submission.

General Formatting

Manuscripts should be prepared using Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).

Use:

A4 page size

12-point Times New Roman font

Double line spacing

Continuous line numbering

Page numbering

Standard margins of 2.5 cm

The manuscript should be submitted as an editable Word document.

2. TITLE & ABSTRACT

The Title & Abstract file is uploaded separately from the Main Manuscript and contains the title page information below together with the Abstract and Keywords described in Section 4.

The title page should include:

Article Type

Authors should clearly indicate the article type selected from the manuscript categories listed below.

Title

The title should be concise, informative, and accurately reflect the content of the manuscript.

Abbreviations should be avoided whenever possible.

Authors

Provide:

Full name of each author

Highest academic degree, if applicable

ORCID iD

Institutional affiliation

There is no fixed restriction on the number of authors, provided that all listed authors meet the applicable ICMJE authorship criteria.

Affiliations

Affiliations should be presented as:

Department/Division

Institution

City

Country

Corresponding Author

Provide:

Full name

Department

Institution

Full postal address

Telephone number

Email address

ORCID iD

3. MANUSCRIPT CATEGORIES AND REQUIREMENTS

Central Asian Cancer Sciences (CACS) accepts the following manuscript categories:

Original Research Article

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Systematic Review

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Narrative Review

Case Report

Case Series

Methods Article

Research Protocol

Authors should select the category that most accurately reflects the design and purpose of the manuscript.

Unless otherwise specified, word limits refer to the main manuscript text including the abstract but excluding references, tables, figures, and figure legends.

(1) Original Research Articles

Word limit: 4,000 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 300 words maximum, structured with the following sub-headings: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: No fixed limit.

Figures/Tables: No fixed limit; however, up to 8 combined figures and tables is recommended.

Description: Original Research Articles are full-length reports of novel findings in basic, translational, clinical, surgical, epidemiological, diagnostic, preventive, or health-services research relevant to oncology.

The manuscript should generally be organized as follows: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.

Authors should provide appropriate information regarding ethics approval, informed consent, funding, conflicts of interest, data availability, and author contributions, where applicable.

The appropriate reporting guideline should be followed according to the study design.

(2) Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Word limit: 4,500 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 300 words maximum, structured with the following sub-headings: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: No fixed limit.

Figures/Tables: No fixed limit; however, up to 8 combined figures and tables is recommended.

Description: Randomized Controlled Trial manuscripts report prospective studies in which participants are randomly assigned to intervention and control groups to evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, or other outcomes of an intervention relevant to oncology.

The manuscript should generally be organized as follows: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.

The Methods section should clearly describe participant eligibility, interventions, randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, outcomes, sample-size determination, and statistical analysis.

Reporting guideline: RCT manuscripts should follow the CONSORT statement and applicable CONSORT extensions.

Trial registration: Prospective clinical trials should be registered in a publicly accessible clinical trial registry before participant enrollment where required. The registry name, registration number, and registration date should be provided in the manuscript.

(3) Systematic Reviews

Word limit: 5,000 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 300 words maximum, structured with the following sub-headings: Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: No fixed limit.

Figures/Tables: No fixed limit; however, up to 8 combined figures and tables is recommended.

Description: Systematic Reviews provide a comprehensive and methodologically rigorous synthesis of available evidence addressing a clearly defined research question.

The manuscript should generally include: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.

The Methods section should describe the eligibility criteria, information sources, search strategy, study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and methods of evidence synthesis.

Reporting guideline: Systematic Reviews should follow PRISMA 2020 and relevant PRISMA extensions where applicable.

The complete search strategy for each database should preferably be provided as supplementary material.

Registration: The registration number of a review protocol, such as PROSPERO, should be provided where applicable.

(4) Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses

Word limit: 5,500 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 300 words maximum, structured with the following sub-headings: Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: No fixed limit.

Figures/Tables: No fixed limit; however, up to 10 combined figures and tables is recommended.

Description: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses quantitatively synthesize evidence from multiple eligible studies using predefined and appropriate statistical methods.

The manuscript should generally include: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.

The Methods section should describe the search strategy, eligibility criteria, study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, effect measures, statistical model, assessment of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and assessment of publication bias where applicable.

Effect estimates should be reported with appropriate measures of uncertainty, such as 95% confidence intervals.

Reporting guideline: PRISMA 2020 and relevant PRISMA extensions should be followed where applicable.

Registration: PROSPERO registration should be provided where applicable.

Complete search strategies should be submitted as supplementary material.

(5) Narrative Reviews

Word limit: 4,000 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 250 words maximum, unstructured without sub-headings.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: No fixed limit; up to 80 references is recommended.

Figures/Tables: No fixed limit; however, up to 6 combined figures and tables is recommended.

Description: Narrative Reviews provide comprehensive and critical analyses of specific topics relevant to cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or supportive care.

Reviews should provide a balanced synthesis of current evidence and identify important areas of uncertainty, controversy, and future research.

Proposals for Reviews may be submitted to the Editorial Office for initial consideration. Authors submitting a proposal should provide an outline and a brief description of the proposed review. Submission of a proposal does not guarantee acceptance or publication.

Both invited and unsolicited Reviews are subject to editorial assessment and peer review.

(6) Case Reports

Word limit: 2,000 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 200 words maximum.

Keywords: 3–5.

References: 30 maximum.

Figures/Tables: Maximum 4 combined.

Description: Case Reports describe individual patients with unusual, clinically significant, educational, diagnostic, pathological, therapeutic, or scientifically relevant findings in oncology.

The manuscript should generally be organized as follows: Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, and Conclusions.

Only cases with sufficient clinical or scientific relevance and novelty should be submitted.

Reporting guideline: Authors should follow the CARE guideline where applicable.

Patient consent: Written informed consent for publication must be obtained where required, particularly when identifiable patient information, photographs, imaging, videos, or other potentially identifying material are included.

(7) Case Series

Word limit: 3,000 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 250 words maximum.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: 40 maximum.

Figures/Tables: Maximum 6 combined.

Description: Case Series describe multiple patients who share a clinically, pathologically, diagnostically, or therapeutically relevant characteristic.

The manuscript should generally be organized as follows: Introduction, Methods, Case Presentation/Results, Discussion, and Conclusions.

Authors should clearly describe case-selection criteria, patient characteristics, diagnostic findings, treatment, outcomes, and follow-up.

Reporting guideline: CARE may be used where applicable. For larger observational case series, STROBE should be considered where appropriate.

Ethics approval or exemption and informed consent requirements should be addressed according to applicable institutional and ethical standards.

(8) Methods Articles

Word limit: 4,000 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 300 words maximum, structured with the following sub-headings: Background, Objective, Methods, Results/Validation, Conclusions.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: No fixed limit.

Figures/Tables: No fixed limit; however, up to 8 combined figures and tables is recommended.

Description: Methods Articles should present a new, substantially modified, or improved research method, analytical approach, laboratory technique, clinical procedure, software tool, algorithm, or research framework.

The method may be completely new or may represent a demonstrable improvement over an existing approach.

The manuscript should provide sufficient methodological and technical detail to allow readers to understand and, where appropriate, reproduce the method.

Where applicable, the manuscript should include validation or evaluation demonstrating the performance and potential value of the proposed method.

Information regarding datasets, software, statistical methods, algorithms, and relevant software versions should be provided where applicable.

A Data Availability Statement and, where appropriate, a Code Availability Statement are required.

(9) Research Protocols

Word limit: 3,500 words maximum including the abstract but excluding references, tables, and figures.

Abstract: 300 words maximum, structured with the following sub-headings: Background, Objectives, Methods, Ethics and Dissemination.

Keywords: 3–8.

References: No fixed limit.

Figures/Tables: No fixed limit; however, up to 8 combined figures and tables is recommended.

Description: Research Protocols describe the planned methodology of clinical, observational, translational, epidemiological, or systematic-review studies.

Protocols should describe planned or ongoing research and should generally be submitted before completion of the study and analysis of the primary outcomes.

The manuscript should generally include: Introduction, Objectives, Study Design, Study Population, Eligibility Criteria, Intervention/Exposure, Outcomes, Sample Size, Randomization and Blinding where applicable, Statistical Analysis, Ethics, Dissemination, and Declarations.

Reporting guidelines:

Clinical trial protocols should follow SPIRIT.

Systematic review protocols should follow PRISMA-P.

Other protocols should follow the appropriate reporting guideline for the study design.

The completed reporting checklist should be submitted as a supplementary file where applicable.

4. ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS

This content is submitted together with the title page information in Section 2, as a single separate Title & Abstract file.

Abstract requirements vary according to manuscript category.

Authors should not include citations in the abstract unless specifically required.

Keywords should be provided according to the requirements of the selected article type.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terminology is strongly recommended where appropriate.

5. MAIN TEXT

The structure of the manuscript should correspond to the selected article type.

Original Research Articles should generally include:

Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

6. ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations should be defined at first mention.

Avoid excessive use of abbreviations.

7. UNITS

Use SI units throughout the manuscript wherever applicable.

8. DRUG NAMES

Use generic drug names.

Trade names may be mentioned once in parentheses when necessary. The manufacturer and location may be provided where relevant.

9. WORD COUNTS

Authors should provide the total word count of the manuscript and indicate which word-processing software and version was used.

Manuscripts that marginally exceed the applicable word limit by no more than 10% will not be automatically rejected solely on the basis of length. However, authors may be asked to shorten overlong manuscripts during editorial assessment or revision.

The Editors reserve the right to request substantial shortening of manuscripts that exceed the appropriate length for their article category.

10. TABLES

Tables should:

be editable;

be numbered consecutively;

include a concise and informative title;

be cited in the text;

define abbreviations in footnotes;

avoid unnecessary duplication of information presented in the text or figures.

11. FIGURES

Figures should:

be of publication quality;

be numbered consecutively;

include clear legends;

be cited in the text;

contain no unnecessary patient identifiers.

Accepted formats include TIFF, JPEG, PNG, EPS, and PDF.

Recommended minimum resolution:

300 dpi for photographs;

600 dpi for line drawings.

12. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Additional tables, figures, datasets, videos, protocols, code, search strategies, statistical analyses, and appendices may be submitted as supplementary files.

Supplementary material should be clearly labeled and cited in the main manuscript.

13. REFERENCES

References should follow the Vancouver style.

References should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they first appear in the text.

Authors are responsible for ensuring reference accuracy and completeness.

Whenever available, DOI numbers should be included.

14. REPORTING GUIDELINES

Authors should follow internationally accepted reporting guidelines appropriate to the study design.

Relevant guidelines include, but are not limited to:

CONSORT — randomized controlled trials

STROBE — observational studies

PRISMA — systematic reviews and meta-analyses

CARE — case reports

TRIPOD — prediction model studies

STARD — diagnostic accuracy studies

ARRIVE — animal research

CHEERS — health economic evaluations

SPIRIT — clinical trial protocols

PRISMA-P — systematic review protocols

Completed reporting checklists should be submitted with the manuscript where applicable.

15. RESEARCH ETHICS

Studies involving human participants must have received appropriate prior approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee where required and must comply with applicable ethical standards and regulations.

Research involving human participants should comply with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

The manuscript should include:

name of the Ethics Committee/IRB;

approval number;

approval date, where applicable;

informed consent statement, where applicable.

16. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Prospective clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible clinical trial registry before participant enrollment where required by applicable standards and regulations.

The registry name, registration number, and registration date should be provided in the manuscript.

17. INFORMED CONSENT

Written informed consent must be obtained whenever required.

For identifiable patient information, photographs, imaging, videos, or other potentially identifying material, appropriate consent for publication must be obtained.

18. DATA AVAILABILITY

All Original Research Articles must include a Data Availability Statement describing where and how supporting data may be accessed or explaining any restrictions.

Where applicable, authors should also provide information regarding access to study protocols, statistical code, and other research materials.

19. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies during manuscript preparation.

AI tools may assist with language editing, formatting, or other disclosed activities but cannot be listed as authors or replace scientific judgment.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of all submitted content.

20. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

All authors must disclose financial and non-financial conflicts of interest.

If no conflicts exist, state:

“The authors declare that they have no competing interests.”

21. FUNDING

All sources of funding must be reported together with the role of the funder in the study.

Authors should state whether the funder had any role in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

22. AUTHORSHIP

Authorship must comply with the ICMJE Recommendations.

A completed CRediT Author Contribution Statement is required for all submissions.

All listed authors should approve the final version of the manuscript and accept responsibility for the work.

23. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet authorship criteria may be acknowledged with their permission.

24. SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

Before submission, authors should ensure that:

the manuscript fits the journal's scope;

the correct manuscript category has been selected;

the manuscript meets the applicable word limit;

all authors approve the submission;

all authors meet the applicable authorship criteria;

ORCID iDs have been provided where available;

the manuscript has not been published elsewhere;

the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal;

ethical approval has been obtained where required;

informed consent has been obtained where applicable;

clinical trial registration has been provided where applicable;

appropriate reporting guideline checklists are included;

conflicts of interest and funding are disclosed;

all figures and tables are complete and cited in the text;

references are accurate;

a Data Availability Statement is provided;

AI use has been disclosed where applicable.

25. AFTER ACCEPTANCE

Accepted manuscripts undergo scientific editing, copyediting, typesetting, proofreading, and author proof review before publication.

Authors are expected to return corrected proofs within the time specified by the Editorial Office.

At the proof stage, authors should focus on correcting typographical, formatting, and factual errors. Substantive changes to the manuscript may require editorial approval.