European Society for Medical Oncology: A Comprehensive Guide

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European Society for Medical Oncology: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Content

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is the leading professional organization for medical oncology in Europe. Established in 1975, ESMO plays a central role in advancing cancer treatment, promoting multidisciplinary care, and guiding clinical practice through evidence-based guidelines.

Representing more than 40,000 oncology professionals in 179 countries and territories, ESMO is a reference for oncology education and information. [1]

1. Why Publish in ESMO? Advantages for Cancer Researchers and Physicians

Publishing in ESMO journals offers tremendous exposure to the world’s leading oncology researchers and physicians. The journals are indexed widely in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. They have a high impact form and stringent editorial standards. ESMO journals are an excellent place to publish clinical cancer research, translational research, and reports of clinical trials in oncology.[2]

Access to oncology professionals across the globe
Faster peer-review process
Opportunity to publish open access
Published according to standards set forth by the ICMJE and GCP

2. Types of Manuscripts Accepted by ESMO Journals

Some of the journals published by ESMO, including Annals of Oncology and ESMO Open, include publishing policies for:

Original research articles
Review articles, including meta-analyses
Case reports and clinical trial reports
Short communications, letters to the editor, and correspondence
Editorials or commentaries

3. Step-by-Step Guide to ESMO Manuscript Preparation

Manuscript preparation for ESMO journals has a rigid structure and clarity:[3]

Title and abstract structure
Follow IMRaD structure (Introduction, Methodology, Results, and Discussion)
Proper use of clinical trial identification
Use MeSH terms and key words
Use reporting guidelines: CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE

For authors who want to publish in ESMO, careful design of the manuscript and data presentation is crucial.

4. ESMO Formatting and Ethical Compliance Checklist

Prior to submission, authors should verify that:

Word limits, line spacing and font style conform to the ESMO formatting guidelines
Ethical approvals (IRB) and informed consent are documented
Declaration of COIs (Conflict of Interest)
Authorship is congruent with ICMJE recommendations
Figures and tables conform to resolution and format requirements
Plagiarism checks are performed

Failure to follow formatting rules can result in your manuscript being rejected up front or will ultimately likely delay processing of your ESMO manuscript.

5. Understanding ESMO’s Peer-Review and Editorial Process

The ESMO peer-review process is usually:

Double-blind or single-blind, depending on the journal
Peer-review duration of 3-6 weeks
Steps are as follows: Editorial review → Peer review → Revise → Final decision.

Editorial decisions will be based on factors including, scientific editing, relevance to oncology, and methodological rigor.

Once an article has been accepted, articles will be pre-published online, and final assignment occurs when articles are included in an ESMO journal issue.

6. Tips for Successful Submission and Avoiding Rejection

Avoid common bases for rejection:

Incomplete or incorrect ESMO formatting
Submissions to the wrong scope of the journal
Lack of novelty or maintenance of poor methodology
Ethical issues or lack of approval of work
Failure to meet ESMO submission standards [4]

Recommendations for acceptance:

Use language editors
Provide cover letters that have briefs of contribution
Cite appropriate ESMO references
Keep checklists for submission, and review in detail

7. FAQs: Common Questions About ESMO Publication

Q: Can I publish a retrospective study in ESMO?
A: Yes, if ethical clearance and scientific merit are evident.

Q: Are case reports accepted?
A: Only in specific ESMO journals like ESMO Open.

Q: Does ESMO charge APCs (Article Processing Charges)?
A: Only for open access articles.

Q: Is language editing mandatory?
A: Strongly recommended for non-native English speakers.

8. Resources and Templates for ESMO Submissions

Get valuable resources for a successful ESMO journal submission:

ESMO manuscript templates (Word format)
Cover letter examples
ICMJE Conflict of Interest forms
Reporting checklists (CONSORT, PRISMA)
Language editing and reference formatting tools

Submission portals: links to Editorial Manager, or Manuscript Central Utilize these author resources to simplify your submission process and meet ESMO submission requirements

9. Need Expert Help with ESMO Submissions?

If you need assistance with formatting service, editing, submission, or responding to peer reviews, our ESMO journal submission services offer support with:

End-to-end manuscript development
Formatting and ethical compliance checks
Journal matching and submission portal assistance
Peer review responses and handling

Conclusion

Publishing in ESMO journals provides an unmatched opportunity for oncology researchers and clinicians looking for a place to publish impactful work. However, it is important to understand that success depends on following strict manuscript formatting, ethical, and peer-review guidance provided by the European Society for Medical Oncology.

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References

No title. (n.d.). Esmo.org. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://www.esmo.org/about-esmo
Rolfo, C., Caglevic, C., Bretel, D., Hong, D., Raez, L. E., Cardona, A. F., Oton, A. B., Gomez, H., Dafni, U., Vallejos, C., & Zielinski, C. (2016). Cancer clinical research in Latin America: current situation and opportunities. Expert opinion from the first ESMO workshop on clinical trials, Lima, 2015. ESMO Open, 1(4), e000055. https://doi.org/10.1136/esmoopen-2016-000055
Balch, C. M., McMasters, K. M., Klimberg, V. S., Pawlik, T. M., Posner, M. C., Roh, M., Tanabe, K. K., Whippen, D., & Ikoma, N. (2018). Steps to Getting Your Manuscript Published in a High-Quality Medical Journal. Annals of surgical oncology, 25(4), 850–855. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-017-6320-6
Kamat, P. V., & Schatz, G. C. (2012). Getting your Submission Right and Avoiding Rejection. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 3(21), 3088–3089. https://doi.org/10.1021/jz3014562