The Asian Journal of Current Research in Clinical Cancer is fundamentally committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct across every dimension of its publication process. This policy is firmly grounded in leading international guidelines, most notably the principles set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
The journal's ethical framework rests on transparency, accountability, and the cultivation of trust among all who participate in the scholarly process — authors, peer reviewers, editors, and the publisher alike.
1. Foundation of Ethical Research and Publication
The Asian Journal of Current Research in Clinical Cancer strictly adheres to the ethical requirements for research involving human subjects, as set forth by the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects.
Disclosure and Linkage: The full text of the Declaration of Helsinki may be accessed through the following link: https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/
2. Research Involving Human and Animal Subjects and Vulnerable Populations
Human Subjects Compliance: All submitted research involving human participants, data, or materials must demonstrate strict compliance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Authors are required to confirm that their study was reviewed and approved by an appropriate institutional ethics committee (such as an Institutional Review Board or its equivalent).
Informed Consent: Documented informed consent from all human participants, or their legal guardians, is mandatory and must be explicitly stated within the manuscript.
Policy for Vulnerable Populations: The journal recognizes that certain studies involve participants who are especially susceptible to coercion or undue influence — including children, patients with cognitive disabilities, or institutionalized individuals. For research submitted to the Asian Journal of Current Research in Clinical Cancer that includes such vulnerable groups, authors must provide:
The specific ethical justification for including the vulnerable group in the study.
A detailed account of the procedures used to obtain informed assent (from the participant, where applicable) and informed consent from a legally authorized representative.
A description of all measures taken to safeguard the privacy and rights of these participants.
Animal Subjects: Research involving animals must conform to institutional and national animal welfare guidelines. Authors must confirm that all procedures were designed to minimize distress and pain, and were approved by a relevant ethics committee.
3. Handling Misconduct, Corrections, and Retractions
The journal maintains a robust policy for addressing allegations of publication malpractice, in strict accordance with the COPE Core Practices and Guidelines.
Publication Malpractice (COPE): This encompasses, though is not limited to, data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and duplicate submission.
Corrections Policy: Should a published article contain a significant error that does not compromise the scientific validity of its findings, the journal will issue a formal Correction Notice. This notice will be prominently linked to the original article and will clearly describe the nature of the error and the correction made.
Retractions Policy: Articles may be retracted in cases of confirmed research misconduct (such as fabrication or plagiarism) or major ethical breaches. A formal Retraction Notice will be published, clearly stating the grounds for retraction, and will remain visible on the article's page.
Roles in Misconduct Investigation: Allegations of misconduct are investigated in accordance with COPE guidelines. The Publisher and Editors share joint responsibility for initiating an investigation, contacting the authors' institution where necessary, and taking appropriate action — whether through corrections or retractions.
4. Responsibilities of Stakeholders
|
Stakeholder |
Key Ethical Responsibility |
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Publisher |
Ensures that editorial decisions remain independent of commercial or political interests, and is responsible for preserving the integrity of the academic record through corrections, retractions, and unwavering transparency. |
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Editors |
Responsible for ensuring a fair, unbiased, and timely review process. Must declare any conflicts of interest, protect the confidentiality of authors and reviewers, and ensure that decisions rest solely on scientific merit and COPE guidelines. |
|
Reviewers |
Must maintain strict confidentiality, offer objective and constructive feedback, declare any conflicts of interest, and alert the editor to ethical concerns or potential overlap with other published works. |
|
Authors |
Must present accurate data, cite all relevant sources, disclose conflicts of interest, and ensure their work fully complies with the journal's ethical standards — including obtaining ethical approval and informed consent. |
5. Authorship, Originality, and Data Integrity
Originality and Plagiarism: All submissions must represent original, unpublished work.
Authorship Criteria (ICMJE): Authorship must be based on substantial contributions as defined by ICMJE criteria. Any change in authorship requires the written consent of all authors.
Data Availability and Integrity: Authors must provide access to relevant source data upon reasonable request, thereby ensuring the reproducibility of their research.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools: Authors must disclose the use of any such tools in the preparation of their manuscript.
Harassment Policy
The journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment or discrimination directed at authors, reviewers, editors, or staff.
