The Pacific Journal of Oncology & Immunotherapy (PJOI) adheres to a meticulous and transparent peer-review process designed to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity, quality, and scholarly excellence. This rigorous evaluation system ensures that only the most impactful and credible research is disseminated to the global oncology and immunotherapy community. The peer-review process at PJOI is structured into the following comprehensive stages:

1. Submission and Initial Evaluation
   • Manuscript Submission: Authors submit manuscripts via the PJOI online submission portal. A cover letter detailing the significance, originality, and relevance of the research must accompany the manuscript. Authors must ensure that their work complies with the journal's formatting guidelines, ethical standards, and conflict of interest disclosures.
   • Initial Screening: The editorial office conducts an initial screening to ensure compliance with formatting guidelines and checks for originality using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage.

 

2. Assignment to an Editor

• Editor-in-Chief Assignment: Manuscripts passing the initial screening are assigned to the Editor-in-Chief or a Senior Editor, who evaluates the manuscript’s novelty, significance, and alignment with the journal’s objectives.
• Selection of Handling Editor: The manuscript is then assigned to a Handling Editor with specialized expertise in the relevant field to oversee the peer-review process.

 

3. Peer Reviewer Selection

• Reviewer Identification: The Handling Editor selects potential peer reviewers based on their expertise and publication history. Typically, two to three reviewers are invited to assess the manuscript, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation.
• Invitation to Review: Reviewers receive an invitation email with the manuscript's title, abstract, and instructions. They must confirm their availability and disclose potential conflicts of interest before accepting the invitation.
• Conflict of Interest Check: Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that might affect their impartiality. If conflicts are identified, an alternative reviewer is selected.

 

4. Double-Blind Review

• Anonymity: PJOI follows a double-blind review process, ensuring that both reviewers and authors remain anonymous to each other, eliminating bias and ensuring an objective evaluation.
• Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers assess the manuscript on:
  • Originality and Novelty
  • Methodological Rigor
  • Data and Results
  • Relevance and Impact
  • Clarity and Structure
• Reviewer’s Report: Reviewers provide a detailed report with specific comments, suggestions, and a recommendation regarding whether the manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected.

 

5. Editorial Decision

• Handling Editor's Assessment: After reviewing the feedback from the peer reviewers, the Handling Editor formulates a recommendation. If necessary, additional reviews may be requested.
• Decision Categories:
  • Accept: Manuscript accepted for publication without further revisions.
  • Minor Revisions: The manuscript requires minor changes, and authors must resubmit it after revisions.
  • Major Revisions: Significant revisions needed before resubmission and possible additional reviews.
  • Reject: The manuscript is unsuitable for publication in PJOI due to significant flaws or misalignment with the journal’s scope.
• Final Decision: The Handling Editor’s recommendation is forwarded to the Editor-in-Chief, who makes the final decision. Authors are notified of the decision and required revisions.

 

6. Revision and Resubmission

• Author Revisions: Authors are given a set timeframe to address the reviewers’ comments and submit a revised manuscript. A detailed response letter outlining the changes made must accompany the resubmission.
• Re-Review (if applicable): For significant revisions, the revised manuscript may be sent to the original reviewers for a second evaluation.

 

7. Final Acceptance and Publication

• Final Check: The editorial office conducts a final review to ensure that all revisions have been incorporated and the manuscript adheres to the journal’s standards.
• Proofing: Authors receive proofs of the accepted manuscript for final approval. This allows for minor corrections before the manuscript is published.
• Online Publication: Accepted manuscripts are published in the next available issue of PJOI. Articles are immediately accessible under the journal’s open-access policy and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license.

 

8. Post-Publication

• Post-Publication Review: PJOI encourages ongoing scholarly discussion and feedback. If substantial new information or concerns arise after publication, the editorial team may issue corrections, retractions, or updates.
• Author and Reviewer Recognition: PJOI acknowledges the contributions of authors and reviewers in advancing research. Reviewers who provide high-quality reviews may be invited to join the editorial board or serve as guest editors.

 

PJOI is dedicated to maintaining a robust and transparent peer-review process to ensure the publication of high-quality, impactful research. This process fosters credibility, trust, and academic excellence in oncology and immunotherapy research.