Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.

Its scope is unique. The term "oncotarget" encompasses all molecules, pathways, cellular functions, cell types, and even tissues that can be viewed as targets relevant to cancer as well as other diseases. The term was introduced in the inaugural Editorial, Introducing Oncotarget.

As of January 1, 2022, Oncotarget has shifted to a continuous publishing model. Papers will now be published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form and then quickly released to Pubmed.

Subscribe to receive alerts once a paper has been published by Oncotarget.

Subscribe

Learn about our FREE

Post-Publication Promotion Services

👁 Vol 17 (2026) Cover Image

On August 25, 2022, the Office of Science and Technology Policy announced a new government policy legislating the immediate public release of all United States-funded research publications by 2025. Learn more here.

On May 23, 2023, the Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on high-quality, transparent, open, trustworthy, and equitable scholarly publishing. The Council calls for immediate and unrestricted open access to publishing research involving public funds. Learn more.

Latest articles about new and trending papers published by Oncotarget

Interviews and testimonials from authors who publish with Oncotarget

In December 2025 and January 2026, our server encountered malicious cyberattacks that led to disruptions of online publications and website access.

The Dark side of PubPeer: there are suspicions that certain individuals associated with PubPeer may have been involved in cybercriminal activities, including hacking servers, causing journal websites to go offline, and using illegitimate practices to influence Google search results for journals and scientists.

Oncotarget welcomes new members to the Oncotarget Editorial Board:

, Dr. Ibrahim Abu-Gheida, Dr. Humaid Obaid Al-Shamsi, Dr. Trever Bivona, Dr. Phillip Buckhaults, Dr. Fred Bunz, Dr. Benedito A. Carneiro, Dr. Clark C. Chen, Dr. Jonathan Chernoff, Dr. Stephen G. Chun, Dr. Nathan Dolloff, Dr. Peiwen Fei, Dr. Lori Hazlehurst, Dr. Elizabeth P. Henske, Dr. Justin D. Lathia, Dr. Sean Lawler, Dr. Bora Lim, Dr. Jia (Jenny) Liu, Dr. Hui-Wen Lo, Dr. Emil Lou, Dr. Anirban Maitra, Dr. Ruben A. Mesa, Dr. Boris C. Pasche, Dr. Steven A. Rosenzweig, Dr. Yashbir Singh, Dr. Kumar Somasundaram and Dr. Noel Warfel.

Please visit our Editorial Board page to learn more about our outstanding members.

On September 15, 2022, Oncotarget was accepted again for indexing by MEDLINE. Oncotarget is now indexed by Medline/PubMed and PMC/PubMed.
Learn more.

Late Andrew V. Schally, a member of the Editorial Board of Oncotarget, a Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine: “Oncotarget is an outstanding and most important journal in the field of oncology and cancer research. Oncotarget is performing an extremely useful function for those of us working not only in cancer research, but also on other important topics in the field of medicine. Oncotarget deserves a strong support from investigators working in the area of oncology as well as from NIH.”

As stated by MEDLINE reviewers on 6/22/2017,
"This journal continues to play a major role in the publication of important basic science research papers. Editorial practices are consistently high. Ethical guidelines are consistently followed. This is an important research journal for the field."

Web of Science Update »

The Story Behind Oncotarget »