Aims & Scope
Journal of Breast Cancer Survival (JBCS) publishes mechanistic research elucidating the molecular and cellular pathophysiology of breast cancer, from tumor initiation and progression to metastasis and therapeutic resistance.
Research Domains
Molecular Mechanisms of Tumorigenesis
- Oncogenic signaling pathways and tumor suppressor networks
- Genetic and epigenetic alterations driving breast cancer initiation
- Cellular basis of breast cancer subtypes (luminal, basal, HER2+)
- Molecular classification systems and prognostic signatures
- Tumor microenvironment interactions and stromal reprogramming
- Cancer stem cell biology and plasticity mechanisms
"Identification of novel PI3K/AKT pathway mutations conferring endocrine resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells through CRISPR screening and functional validation"
Biomarker Discovery & Validation
- Molecular biomarkers for disease classification and prognosis
- Predictive markers for therapeutic response mechanisms
- Circulating tumor DNA and liquid biopsy analytes
- Proteomic and metabolomic signatures of disease states
- Receptor expression patterns (estrogen, progesterone, HER2)
- Biomarker-driven patient stratification approaches
"Proteomic profiling reveals metabolic enzyme signatures predicting chemotherapy sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer models"
Drug Resistance Pathophysiology
- Molecular mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance
- Endocrine therapy resistance pathways and bypass mechanisms
- Targeted therapy resistance (HER2, CDK4/6, PARP inhibitors)
- Immunotherapy resistance and immune evasion strategies
- Drug efflux mechanisms and metabolic adaptations
- Clonal evolution and acquired resistance mutations
"Mechanistic analysis of ESR1 mutations driving fulvestrant resistance through altered receptor conformation and co-regulator binding"
Metastasis Biology
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition mechanisms
- Invasion and migration pathway regulation
- Metastatic niche establishment and organ tropism
- Dormancy mechanisms and metastatic reactivation
- Lymphatic and hematogenous dissemination pathways
- Bone, brain, and visceral metastasis-specific mechanisms
"Identification of bone marrow niche factors promoting dormancy exit in disseminated breast cancer cells through single-cell transcriptomics"
Secondary Focus Areas
Molecular Epidemiology
- Genetic risk factors and hereditary breast cancer mechanisms (BRCA1/2, PALB2)
- Gene-environment interactions affecting disease pathogenesis
- Population-based molecular subtype distribution studies
- Germline variants modulating disease susceptibility
Experimental Models & Methods
- Patient-derived xenograft and organoid model development
- Genetically engineered mouse models of breast cancer
- 3D culture systems and tumor-on-chip technologies
- Novel imaging modalities for mechanistic investigation
- Computational modeling of tumor dynamics
Molecular Targets & Drug Mechanisms
- Target identification and validation studies
- Mechanism-of-action studies for novel therapeutics
- Drug-target interaction characterization
- Pharmacodynamic biomarker development
- Combination therapy synergy mechanisms
Emerging Research Frontiers
Artificial Intelligence in Mechanistic Discovery
- Machine learning for pathway prediction and biomarker identification
- AI-driven drug resistance mechanism discovery
- Deep learning for molecular subtype classification
- Computational prediction of therapeutic vulnerabilities
AI/ML submissions must include mechanistic validation and biological interpretation, not solely computational predictions.
Tumor Immunology & Microenvironment
- Immune cell infiltration patterns and functional states
- Tumor-immune cell crosstalk mechanisms
- Immunosuppressive pathway characterization
- Antigen presentation and T cell recognition mechanisms
Single-Cell & Spatial Biology
- Single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic profiling
- Spatial transcriptomics of tumor architecture
- Clonal evolution tracking and lineage tracing
- Cellular heterogeneity and plasticity mechanisms
Explicitly Out of Scope
Clinical Treatment Protocols
Surgical techniques, radiotherapy regimens, chemotherapy dosing schedules, and treatment guidelines without mechanistic investigation belong in clinical oncology journals.
Patient Management Studies
Clinical decision-making, care coordination, survivorship programs, and quality-of-life interventions without molecular/cellular focus are outside our pathophysiology scope.
Purely Clinical Outcomes Research
Retrospective outcome analyses, survival comparisons, and prognostic studies without biomarker discovery or mechanistic insight should target clinical research journals.
Health Services & Policy Research
Healthcare economics, screening program implementation, public health policies, and access-to-care studies lack the molecular focus required for JBCS.
Benign Breast Disease (Non-Mechanistic)
Clinical descriptions of benign conditions without investigation of molecular mechanisms linking to cancer pathogenesis are not suitable.
Nutritional Interventions
Dietary studies, supplement trials, and lifestyle interventions without molecular pathway analysis belong in nutrition or preventive medicine journals.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Fast-Track Review
Standard Review
By Invitation or Exceptional Merit Only
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
Manuscripts must follow ARRIVE (animal studies), MIQE (qPCR), REMARK (biomarker studies), or appropriate discipline-specific guidelines. Include completed checklists at submission.
Data Availability
Raw data, code, and materials must be deposited in public repositories (GEO, ArrayExpress, Zenodo). Provide accession numbers and DOIs. Proprietary restrictions must be justified.
Ethics & Reproducibility
IRB/IACUC approval required for human/animal studies. Cell line authentication (STR profiling) and mycoplasma testing mandatory. Report biological and technical replicates clearly.
Preprint Policy
Preprint posting encouraged and does not affect consideration. Cite preprint DOI in cover letter. Final published version must acknowledge preprint and link to journal article.
Statistical Rigor
Power calculations, effect sizes, and confidence intervals required. Describe statistical tests, corrections for multiple comparisons, and handling of outliers. Consult statistician for complex analyses.
Peer Review Process
Double-blind peer review by 2-3 experts in pathophysiology and molecular biology. Authors may suggest/exclude reviewers. Reviews and responses published with accepted articles (optional anonymity).
Publication Metrics
Average Time to First Decision
Acceptance Rate (2023)
Average Time to Publication
Article Processing Charge (APC)
Ready to Submit?
If your research elucidates molecular mechanisms of breast cancer pathophysiology, we want to hear from you. For scope inquiries or pre-submission questions, contact our editorial team.
[email protected]
