The OncoDaily Medical Journal (ODMJ) is launching a Special Series dedicated to Colorectal Cancer (CRC) in 2026. This fully online series will publish articles on a rolling basis throughout 2026 and will be curated into a formal collection once a critical mass of papers is reached. The series aims to advance colorectal cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, and health-system strengthening across diverse regional and socioeconomic contexts. The Special Series is led by two internationally recognized leaders in the field: Dirk Arnold, Director of the Asklepios Tumorzentrum Hamburg, and Gabrielle van Ramshorst, Consultant Surgical Oncologist Ghent University Hospital. Accepted manuscripts will be fast-tracked for publication and prominently featured as part of this international effort.
Colorectal Cancer in 2026: Scope and Vision
Colorectal cancer care is evolving rapidly, driven by earlier detection efforts, molecular stratification, and new systemic and multimodality strategies. At the same time, many patients experience delayed diagnosis, unequal access to high-quality treatment, and avoidable toxicity and quality-of-life impairment. This series prioritizes patient-centered, clinically relevant, and implementation-ready work with clear implications for real-world care.
Article Processing Charges (APC): There will be no APC for articles submitted to and accepted in this Special Series.
Priority Themes for Submissions
1. Clinical Research With Practice Impact
Submissions are encouraged that improve decision-making and outcomes in routine care, including:
- Pragmatic clinical studies, real-world evidence, registry studies, and comparative effectiveness research,
- Treatment sequencing, multidisciplinary care models, and optimization strategies (e.g., escalation/de-escalation, toxicity mitigation),
- Studies addressing access to care, timeliness of treatment, and pathway redesign that demonstrate measurable clinical impact.
2. Translational Research Anchored to Clinical Utility
Submissions should connect translational findings directly to patient management or clinical outcomes, including:
- Predictive/prognostic biomarkers and treatment selection (e.g., MSI/MMR, RAS/BRAF, HER2, NTRK, KRAS G12C)
ctDNA/MRD for risk stratification, adjuvant decision-making, and surveillance strategies, - Correlative studies linked to clinical endpoints (response, recurrence, survival, toxicity),
- Hereditary syndromes (e.g., Lynch syndrome, polyposis syndromes) with implications for clinical pathways.
Note: purely basic laboratory studies without clear linkage to clinical outcomes or patient management are not prioritized.
3. Unmet Clinical Needs and Patient Relevance
Submissions should highlight how findings address patient-facing gaps, including:
- Quality of life, PROs, survivorship models, symptom burden, and supportive care interventions,
- Toxicity prevention/management and long-term treatment consequences,
- Shared decision-making tools, patient navigation, and equity-focused care delivery solutions.
4. Early-Onset CRC and AYA-Focused Research
Work focused on early-onset CRC/AYA populations is strongly encouraged, including:
- Epidemiology and risk factors; prevention and awareness strategies,
- Diagnostic delay, symptom recognition, referral patterns, and access to colonoscopy,
- Biology and molecular features with treatment implications,
- Survivorship and long-term impacts in younger patients,
- Article Types and Practical Guidance,
This Special Series accepts Original Articles and Reviews.
Find more information about the content types and article formatting.
Criteria for Evaluation
Manuscripts will be evaluated based on:
- Patient relevance – clear implications for patient outcomes, care pathways, or decision-making,
- Rigor and interpretability – sound methodology and clinically appropriate conclusions,
- Clinical and translational utility – actionable relevance to prevention, detection, treatment, or survivorship,
- Implementation potential – feasibility, scalability, and adaptability across settings,
- Equity impact – potential to reduce gaps in access, quality, or outcomes,
- Innovation with utility – novel approaches that can be realistically adopted
Submissions are particularly welcomed that:
- Address unmet needs in patient care and survivorship,
- Focus on early-onset CRC and AYA populations,
- Evaluate ctDNA/MRD, biomarker-guided strategies, or clinically actionable translational insights,
- Provide implementation evidence for screening, diagnostic, or treatment pathways,
- Present scalable equity-focused models applicable across resource settings,
- Offer meta-analyses or comparative studies with generalizable conclusions.
For the full submission guidelines please proceed with the link.