Cancer research continues to evolve through collaboration across disciplines, bringing together advances in molecular biology, immunology, neuroscience, precision medicine, population health, and clinical research. As our understanding of cancer becomes increasingly sophisticated, new opportunities are emerging to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through integrated approaches that span the bench-to-bedside continuum.

To support these rapidly advancing areas of research, Nature Communications and partner Nature Portfolio journals invite submissions to a series of cross-journal collections focused on Cancer Research and Precision Medicine. Together, these collections aim to showcase discoveries that deepen our understanding of cancer biology while accelerating the development of more precise and effective strategies for prevention and patient care.

A connected research landscape

Many of today's most pressing questions in oncology sit at the intersection of multiple scientific fields. Understanding why cancers metastasize to specific organs requires insights into tumour biology and tissue microenvironments. Developing next-generation cancer vaccines demands advances in immunology, genomics, and translational medicine. Emerging evidence also highlights the importance of interactions between tumours and the nervous system, while prevention and early detection remain critical priorities for reducing the global burden of cancer.

This series of collections brings together these interconnected areas of research, providing a platform for studies ranging from fundamental mechanisms to clinical applications and public health interventions.

Featured Collections

Organotropism in cancer metastasis

Metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, yet the mechanisms driving tumour dissemination to specific organs remain incompletely understood. This collection aims to highlight recent advances in the molecular and cellular processes underlying metastatic organotropism and encourages research that may facilitate earlier detection, improved diagnosis, and the development of targeted therapeutic approaches.

Participating journals: Nature Communications, Nature Progress Oncology, Communications Biology, and Scientific Reports.

Cancer vaccines in the immunotherapy era

Cancer vaccines are experiencing renewed momentum as advances in genomics, immunology, and personalized medicine create new opportunities for therapeutic intervention. This collection welcomes primary research focused on the clinical development of cancer vaccines, including personalized vaccine approaches and other innovative strategies that harness the immune system to combat cancer.

Participating journals: Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Cancer, Nature Communications, Nature Progress Oncology, and Communications Medicine.

Cancer Neuroscience: from mechanisms to therapy

Interactions between cancer and the nervous system have emerged as an exciting frontier in oncology research. Growing evidence suggests that neural signalling can influence tumour growth, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response, while cancers may in turn alter neural function.

This collection invites submissions that investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cancer-neural interactions, as well as pre-clinical and clinical studies exploring therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways.

Participating journals: Nature Communications, Nature, Nature Cancer, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Progress Oncology, Nature Progress Brain Health, and Communications Biology.

Cancer Prevention and Control

While advances in treatment are transforming outcomes for many patients, prevention and early detection remain among the most effective strategies for reducing cancer morbidity and mortality. This collection seeks research Articles and Registered Reports that advance the science and practice of cancer prevention, including studies focused on cancer risk reduction, screening, implementation strategies, and early detection approaches.

Participating journals: Nature Communications, Nature Medicine, Communications Medicine, Communications Health, and Scientific Reports.

Why submit?

These collections provide an opportunity to:

• Participate in high-visibility cross-journal initiatives led by Nature Communications
• Reach audiences spanning basic, translational, clinical, and population-level cancer research
• Engage with editorial teams across leading Nature Portfolio journals
• Showcase interdisciplinary research addressing major challenges in modern oncology
• Contribute to emerging discussions in cancer biology, immunotherapy, prevention, metastasis, and precision medicine
• Increase the visibility and discoverability of research through dedicated thematic collections

Participating Journals and Submission Pathways

Each collection is supported by multiple Nature Portfolio journals, offering authors a range of publication venues aligned with different research areas and methodologies.

Collection pages provide:

• A full list of participating journals
• Journal-specific submission links
• Author guidelines and editorial policies
• Detailed collection scopes and eligibility criteria

We encourage prospective authors to explore the collection pages and identify the journal that best aligns with their work.

Join the Conversation

Whether your research focuses on metastasis biology, cancer immunotherapy, tumour-host interactions, cancer neuroscience, prevention science, or precision medicine, we invite you to contribute to this cross-journal collection series.

Explore the collection pages to learn more about participating journals, submission pathways, and topics of interest.

We look forward to highlighting the discoveries and innovations that will shape the future of cancer research and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.