Journal profile · Medicine-Oncology
ESMO Open
ISSN 2059-7029 · BMJ Publishing Group · NETHERLANDS
ESMO Open: CAS Zone 1 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 9.04; fully open access; APC about USD 4,310; median 117 days to acceptance (116 articles, last 24 months); 1,641 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
ESMO Open is published by BMJ Publishing Group and is in Zone 1 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers, Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations and Advanced Breast Cancer Therapies, together about 26.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Oncology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
ESMO Open is the European Society for Medical Oncology's online-only, peer-reviewed open access journal, dedicated to publishing high-quality medical research and educational content from all disciplines of oncology, with a focus on innovative clinical and translational cancer research. The Journal aims to maximize industry networks to curate and disseminate preclinical or translational data. We hope to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications, facilitating the translation of groundbreaking discoveries into tangible advancements in cancer care. Our platform will serve as a catalyst for innovation, nurturing the dialogue between academia, industry, and clinical practice.The journal aims to publish research in all disciplines, experimental, translational, diagnostic and therapeutic areas related to oncology, including original articles, reviews, editorials, correspondence, brief reports, research letters, clinical assay interpretation, diagnostic test presentations and viewpoint articles. In addition, the journal welcomes phase I trials and meta-analyses, and will also publish reviews from important European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conferences and meetings as well as position statements on behalf of ESMO.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Medicine-Oncology
Editor-in-chief Hope S. RugoPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 3 in mainland China (about 4%); most named Italy 20, United States 8, Austria 8, United Kingdom 4, Mainland China 3 (69 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Cancer Immunotherapy and BiomarkersMedicine9.7%
- Lung Cancer Treatments and MutationsMedicine9.2%
- Advanced Breast Cancer TherapiesMedicine7.9%
- Breast Cancer Treatment StudiesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.7%
- HER2/EGFR in Cancer ResearchMedicine7.6%
- Cancer Genomics and DiagnosticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.3%
- Lung Cancer Research StudiesMedicine5.3%
- Cancer Treatment and PharmacologyMedicine5.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Oncology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Oncology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Oncology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
PubMedPublisher website
Other: Crossref
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 9.04LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 10.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 12LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 12Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 3.46LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.43LetPub ·
- h-index
- 100OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,232OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.71OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 1.9%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 100%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 316LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 8,506 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2,022 | 2,022 | 273 |
| 2025 | 1,641 | 1,641 | 2,800 |
| 2024 | 1,428 | 1,428 | 5,620 |
| 2023 | 1,079 | 1,079 | 5,780 |
| 2022 | 328 | 328 | 6,789 |
| 2021 | 323 | 323 | 11,689 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
117 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 78 days – 160 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 48 days (116 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 173 days
- Sample
- 116 articles with submission and acceptance dates (679 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 10 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 86 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 20 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | USD 4,310 | Yes | CC BY-NC-ND | |
| OpenAlex | USD 3,910 / EUR 3,660 / GBP 3,130 / JPY 484,960 | — | — | |
| LetPub | EUR 3,000 | Yes | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,320 | — | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 300 words
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 4,000 words
- Reference style
- AMA
Article types accepted8, with length limits
- correspondenceOriginal ArticlesFull papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as ap…Length not stated
- editorialOriginal ArticlesFull papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as ap…main text ≤ 500 words
- letterOriginal ArticlesFull papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as ap…Length not stated
- letter to the editorOriginal ArticlesFull papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as ap…Length not stated
- letters to the editorOriginal ArticlesFull papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as ap…Length not stated
- original articleOriginal ArticlesFull papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as ap…main text ≤ 300 words · abstract ≤ 300 words · references ≤ 5
- reviewOriginal ArticlesFull papers should follow the basic structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as ap…main text ≤ 500 words · abstract ≤ 300 words · references ≤ 5
- short communicationA short communication should include a concise report of an unique original study or case series, reported for the first time. This could also include negative …main text ≤ 200 words · abstract ≤ 200 words · references ≤ 4
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing
The below guidance only refers to the writing process, and not to the use of AI tools to analyse and draw insights from data as part of the research process.Where authors use generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process, authors should only use these technologies to improve readability and language. AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be used t…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship
All authors should have made substantial contributions to all of the following: (1) the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, (3) final approval of the version to be submitted.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Upon acceptance, authors complete a License Agreement; permitted third party reuse of open access articles is determined by the author's choice of user license. Model summary
Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a 'License Agreement' (see more information on this). Permitted third party reuse of open access articles is determined by the author's choice of user license.Author rightsAs an author you (or your employer or institution) have certain rights to reuse your work. More information.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Please visit our Open Access page from the Journal Homepage for more information.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single blind peer review; names of reviewers hidden from authors; usually two external reviewer reports obtained before an Original article or Review article is accepted. Model summary
ESMO Open accepts unsolicited submissions but also commissions Review articles and Editorials. Articles submitted to ESMO Open are subject to plagiarism checks and peer review. The journal operates single blind peer review whereby the names of the reviewers are hidden from the author; usually two external reviewer reports are obtained before an Original article or Review article is accepted for pu…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprints can be shared anywhere at any time, in line with Elsevier's sharing policy; sharing a preprint will not count as prior publication. Model summary
Please note that preprints can be shared anywhere at any time, in line with Elsevier's sharing policy. Sharing your preprints e.g. on a preprint server will not count as prior publication (see 'Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication' for more information).
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2059-7029
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗DOAJ
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗DOAJ
- Aims & Scope ↗DOAJ
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗DOAJ
- Editorial board ↗DOAJ
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ESMO Open
What CAS zone is ESMO Open in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, ESMO Open is in Zone 1 of Medicine, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Oncology; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of ESMO Open?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 9.04; CiteScore 12, h-index 100.
How long does peer review take at ESMO Open?
Based on the dates recorded on 116 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 117 days (interquartile range 78–160 days); authors report an average review time of about 10 weeks. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of ESMO Open?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 300 words; Manuscript length: ≤ 4,000 words; Reference style: AMA. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of ESMO Open based?
Of the 69 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 3 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Italy (20), United States (8) and Austria (8). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index ESMO Open?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, ESMO Open is indexed in SCIE, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists PubMed; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is ESMO Open open access, and what is the APC?
ESMO Open is a fully open-access journal. APC about USD 4,310.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex, DOAJ; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .