npj Breast Cancer is a specialized, online-only, peer-reviewed scientific journal dedicated to advancing knowledge in its field. It operates on an open-access model, ensuring broad dissemination of published research. This publication forms an integral part of the Nature Partner Journals (npj) portfolio, a collection recognized for its rigorous standards. The journal is published by Springer Nature, a prominent global publisher of scientific content. Its focus on breast cancer research positions it as a significant resource for researchers, clinicians, and medical students alike.
Aims and Scope of the Journal
This journal focuses on publishing research that contributes to understanding and combating breast cancer. It welcomes scholarly papers across various scientific and clinical domains. The journal considers submissions on the molecular and cellular biology of breast cancer, including studies on oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and signaling pathways involved in disease progression. Research into the genetics and genomics of breast cancer, such as identifying susceptibility genes or genomic alterations, is also covered.
The scope extends to novel diagnostics and imaging techniques, including advancements in early detection, prognostication, and treatment response monitoring. Therapeutic strategies are a major area of interest, covering conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, alongside targeted therapies and immunotherapies. The journal also publishes findings from clinical trials that evaluate new treatment regimens or combination therapies.
npj Breast Cancer accepts research in epidemiology, focusing on disease incidence, prevalence, and risk factors within populations. Prevention strategies, including lifestyle interventions and chemoprevention, are also covered. Survivorship research, which addresses the long-term physical and psychosocial effects of breast cancer and its treatment, is also published. The journal primarily publishes original research articles and comprehensive reviews, emphasizing scientific rigor, originality, and practical impact.
Assessing Journal Impact and Indexing
The standing of npj Breast Cancer is reflected in its metrics. Its primary indicator is its Impact Factor (IF), which was 7.6 in June 2025. The Impact Factor measures how frequently articles from the journal have been cited in a particular year, indicating the journal’s influence and prominence in its field.
Beyond the standard Impact Factor, other metrics such as the 5-Year Impact Factor of 7.3 and a CiteScore of 6.5 demonstrate consistent citation performance. The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) for the journal is 2.209, placing it in the first quartile (Q1) for oncology, pharmacology (medical), and radiology, nuclear medicine, and imaging categories, indicating its strong standing relative to other journals in these subjects.
The journal’s indexing in major scientific databases also bolsters its visibility and credibility. npj Breast Cancer is indexed in major resources such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, which are widely used by researchers to discover and access scientific literature. Inclusion in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and Embase further enhances its reach and accessibility to a global audience of scientists and clinicians.
The Author Submission and Peer Review Process
Researchers aspiring to publish in npj Breast Cancer navigate a structured submission and peer review process designed to uphold scientific quality. Authors are expected to adhere to specific manuscript formatting requirements, which are detailed on the journal’s website to ensure consistency and readability. Submissions are managed through an online portal, streamlining the process from initial upload to final decision.
The journal employs an anonymous peer review process, where the identities of the reviewers are not disclosed to the authors. This method aims to foster objective evaluation of the manuscript’s scientific rigor, methodology, and overall contribution to the field. Editorial evaluation criteria emphasize the novelty of the research, its scientific soundness, and its significance to the broader understanding and treatment of breast cancer. Editors assess whether the findings represent a meaningful advance and have practical impact.
Upon acceptance, authors are required to pay Article Processing Charges (APCs), which for npj Breast Cancer are approximately 2890 EUR, 3390 USD, or 2590 GBP. These charges cover the costs associated with publication, including peer review management, editorial processing, and online hosting. The average publication time, from submission to final publication, is approximately nine weeks.
Open Access Model and Readership
npj Breast Cancer operates under an open-access model, making all its published articles freely and immediately available worldwide. This model removes barriers to access, allowing researchers, clinicians, and patients globally to read, download, and share content without subscription fees or paywalls. The journal typically utilizes a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even commercially, provided the original work is properly credited.
This open-access approach offers advantages for the scientific community. It accelerates research discovery by ensuring that new findings are widely disseminated and easily discoverable, fostering collaboration and building upon existing knowledge more rapidly. Clinicians benefit from immediate access to the latest research, which can inform patient care and treatment decisions. Patients and the general public also gain direct access to credible scientific information about breast cancer, empowering them with knowledge. Readers can browse the journal’s archive directly on its website and can often sign up for article alerts to receive notifications about new publications, helping them stay current with advancements in the field.