Introduction

Exploration of Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy (eISSN: 2692-3114) is an open-access, peer-reviewed online journal that commenced publication in February 2020 under the leadership of our Editor-in-Chief Dr. Nicola Normanno. The journal is currently indexed in prominent databases including PubMed/PMC, Scopus, CAS, Google Scholar, etc.

The year 2025 marked a period of significant progress for ETAT in the field of academic publishing, with multiple key metrics demonstrating steady growth. While continuing to publish high-quality articles, the journal leveraged a diverse editorial board with international perspectives and implemented a series of strategic promotions and collaborative efforts, effectively enhancing its academic influence and external recognition. This progress was clearly reflected in the consistently improving citation performance over the past year. These achievements fully underscore ETAT's ongoing development and expanding academic impact within the field of oncology research.

This report encapsulates the key achievements of ETAT in 2025 and outlines the strategic direction for the journal's development in 2026.

Key Achievements in 2025

·  Notable Growth in CiteScore: The journal's CiteScore for 2024 reached 3.1. As of January 2026, the CiteScore Tracker has further risen to a new high of 5.2, indicating strong ongoing momentum.

·  Stable Submission and Publication Volume: ETAT received a total of 161 submissions throughout the year and published 71 articles online, maintaining a consistent output of peer-reviewed content.

·  Expanded International Engagement: Submissions were received from 33 countries and regions, and published articles originated from 20 countries, highlighting the journal's global academic platform.

·  Strong and Immediate Scholarly Impact: A significant 69.4% of articles published in 2025 were cited within the same year, demonstrating the immediate relevance and impact of the research.

·  Commitment to High Academic Standards: A manuscript rejection rate of 66.9% reflects the journal's rigorous peer-review process and dedication to maintaining high-quality content.

·  Support from a Distinguished Editorial Board: The editorial board, comprising experts from 18 countries with an average H-index of 59, ensures academic rigor and broad expertise.

Article Quality and Academic Influence

Submissions & Publications

In 2025, ETAT consistently upheld its quality-first publishing strategy, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence through rigorous peer review and editorial oversight. Throughout the year, ETAT received 161 submissions from 33 countries and regions, with the highest contributions notably coming from India, the United States, Russian Federation, Italy, and China. Original articles and reviews together formed the predominant share of submissions. Specifically, review articles accounted for 80 submissions (50%), while original articles comprised 53 submissions (33%), collectively representing the core of the journal's intake and reflecting a strong focus on comprehensive analysis and foundational research within the field.

                                                 Figure 1. Article Types of 2025 Submissions                                                    Figure 2. Countries/Regions Distribution of 2025 Submissions

In 2025, ETAT published a total of 71 peer-reviewed articles. Original Articles (19.7%) and Review Articles (60.6%) constituted the core of its output. These were supplemented by a range of other article types, including Meta-Analyses, Case Reports, Perspectives, Systematic Reviews, as well as Commentary, Letters to the Editor, Short Communications, Protocols, and Mini Reviews.

Regarding article sourcing, the majority of published works were invited contributions (93.0%), reflecting the journal's proactive outreach to experts in the field, while the remaining 7.0% came from unsolicited submissions. Contributions from editorial board members accounted for 9.9% of the total, demonstrating their active participation in the journal's scholarly exchange. Notably, half of the year's publications (50.7%) originated from special issues, underscoring the effectiveness of this focused approach in attracting high-quality research, with the other half (49.3%) comprising regular submissions. This balanced publication distribution ensures both depth and breadth in content, supporting comprehensive academic coverage within the field of targeted anti-tumor therapy.

                                                                                                              Figure 3. Article Types of 2025 Publications

Author Profile

In 2025, ETAT further demonstrated its global reach, with published articles contributed by authors from 20 countries. The United States led with 17 publications, followed by India, Italy, Russian Federation, China, Brazil, and Canada. This geographical diversity underscores the journal's role as an international platform for oncology research.

The scholarly profile of contributing authors reflects a balanced engagement with researchers at various career stages. The average H-index of corresponding authors was 22.3. A detailed analysis shows that over half (54%) of corresponding authors possessed an H-index between 10 and 30, highlighting strong participation from productive mid-career researchers. Meanwhile, a substantial cohort of established experts, comprising 22% of authors, held an H-index above 30.

Among the authors, there are many distinguished experts, as shown in the following list:

★Prof. Godefridus J. (Frits) Peters (H-index 88, Medical University of Gdansk)

Article: Differential molecular mechanisms of bortezomib sensitization to rhTRAIL in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

★Prof. Ger Rijkers (H-index 74, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis)

Article: Role of microbiota in the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibition therapy of cancer 

★Prof. Shahrokh F. Shariat (H-index 138, Medical University of Vienna)

Article: Viral infections and immune modulation in bladder cancer: implications for immunotherapy

The active participation of such leading figures significantly enhances the journal's academic credibility, visibility, and its established reputation within the global research community. Looking ahead to 2026, ETAT remains committed to publishing diverse academic perspectives and cutting-edge research, continuing to foster a dynamic and inclusive platform for scholarship in oncology.

Article Metrics

The impact of articles published has shown remarkable growth, with the average views per article reaching 2,802 in 2025—a substantial increase over the previous two years and marking the third consecutive year of upward momentum. Notably, 87% of articles surpassed 1,000 views, and 23% achieved over 50 downloads, underscoring the strong and growing engagement from the global research community.

Equally impressive is the rapid scholarly recognition of ETAT's content: 69.4% of articles published in 2025 were cited within the same calendar year, attesting to their timeliness and academic significance. Furthermore, the journal's cumulative citation rate stands at 85.6%, highlighting the sustained impact and enduring value of its publications within the field of targeted anti-tumor research.

Figure 4. Views and Downloads Situation of Publication in 2023-2025

Popular Articles

Among the articles published in 2025, five were particularly well-received, each attracting over 1,000 views and exceeding 100 downloads. This reader engagement reflects the notable attention and high regard for the content published in ETAT. To explore these popular articles, click the links below (data current as of December 31, 2025):

Table 1. Most Popular Articles Published in 2025

Peer Review and Reviewers

In 2025, a total of 221 reviewers from 31 countries and regions contributed their expertise, ensuring rigorous and insightful manuscript evaluations. This diverse and active panel, with an average H-index of approximately 22, reflects both strong scholarly engagement and influence. Their diligent work resulted in an average of 3.1 high-quality review reports per submission, further reinforcing the journal's commitment to editorial rigor and the overall authority of its published content.

                                                                                                Figure 5. Countries/Regions Distribution of Reviewers in 2025

Editorial Board

New Editorial Board Members in 2025

In 2025, ETAT continued to enhance its editorial board, further elevating its international influence and academic expertise. We are delighted to welcome six esteemed scholars from the United States, Russian Federation, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates to our editorial board. This expansion enhances the journal's international perspective and academic expertise. The new members bring a collective average H-index of 43, significantly elevating the scholarly profile of the editorial team.

ETAT would like to express sincere appreciation to Prof. Yujiang Fang and Prof. Evgeny Imyanitov for their continued support through multiple high-quality submissions, which have greatly enriched the journal's content. We also extend our thanks to Prof. Patricia Tai for her active contributions since joining the board, including her leadership in special issue development and manuscript recommendations.

Figure 6. New Members of the Editorial Board in 2025

Current Editorial Board

The current ETAT Editorial Board comprises 62 members from 18 countries and regions, including 20 Associate Editors and 42 Editorial Board Members, with an average H-index of 59. In 2025, 45.2% of board members actively contributed to the journal’s development through various roles, such as submitting manuscripts, organizing special issues, conducting peer reviews, and promoting relevant conferences. This high level of engagement strengthens the journal’s quality and operational vitality.

Looking ahead to 2026, ETAT remains dedicated to bringing together leading global scholars and fostering meaningful academic exchange in the field of oncology.

Figure 7. Countries/Regions Distribution of Editorial Board

Special Issues

In 2025, ETAT further expanded its thematic outreach through the successful launch of five new special issues, dedicated to cutting-edge areas such as precision oncology, tumor radiotherapy, cancer vaccines, breast cancer, brain tumors, and urogenital malignancies. These issues are led by internationally recognized experts from Italy, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Submissions for these special issues remain open.

Table 2. Newly Launched Special Issues in 2025 (Open for Submission)

Additionally, five special issues were completed within the year. Among them, the special issue led by Prof. Eyad Elkord featured eight articles that collectively attracted over 26,000 views and close to 20 citations. Another special issue, coordinated by Dr. Alcides Chaux, achieved more than 36,000 views and 17 citations, underscoring its substantial academic reach and impact. Readers are invited to explore these and other special issue collections via the following link:https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/etat/Special_Issues

Table 3. Five Completed Special Issues in 2025

CiteScore and Citations

CiteScore

ETAT's impact metrics in Scopus have demonstrated substantial growth over the past three years. The CiteScore rose from 1.7 in 2022 to 3.1 in 2024, marking an 82% increase. As of January 2026, the CiteScoreTracker has further climbed to 5.2. This consistent upward trajectory indicates that articles published in ETAT are gaining wider recognition and exerting greater influence within the academic community (Scopus preview - Scopus - Exploration of Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy).

Figure 8. CiteScore and Ranking Trends

Citations

The year 2025 marked a period of leapfrog growth in the influence of ETAT, underscored by a series of milestone achievements. A rigorous manuscript screening process, reflected in a 66.9% rejection rate, has been instrumental in upholding the originality and academic value of its published content. On the Dimensions, the journal recorded a notable increase of 1,578 new citations throughout the year - a 118% surge compared to 2024. This brought the total citations to 2,913, with the mean citation of 8.14. Notably, the number of citations accrued in 2025 alone exceeded the cumulative total from all previous years. Moving forward, ETAT remains dedicated to collaborating with researchers worldwide to advance the frontiers of the field.

Figure 9. Annual Total Citation and Mean Citation (Source: Dimensions)

Promotion

Conference Promotion

In 2025, ETAT actively participated in six high-level international academic conferences, significantly raising its profile and strengthening engagement within the global cancer research community. This effort was further amplified through consistent visibility on social media platforms. Editorial board members played a key role in these initiatives, including Associate Editors Prof. Chunsheng Kang and Prof. Francesco Bertoni, as well as board members Dr. Cristina Teixidó and Prof. Pier Paolo Piccaluga. By introducing the journal during their presentations and distributing promotional materials, they effectively enhanced ETAT's academic reputation and increased its attractiveness to potential authors. For more detailed information, please visit: https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/etat/News_Letter?categoryId=18

Figure 10. Part of Conference Promotion Highlights

Social Media

Throughout 2025, ETAT strengthened its presence across major social media platforms, achieving sustained growth in both audience reach and engagement. A particular highlight was its performance on LinkedIn, where the total follower count reached 10,686—a net increase of 2,229 over the year, indicating strong and steady growth momentum. Page followers also grew to 3,227, representing a year‑on‑year increase of more than 17%. In terms of content, ETAT executed focused campaigns around key academic milestones, such as the Highly Cited Paper Award, rises in CiteScore, the appointment of new editorial board members, the launch of special issues, and the promotion of trending articles. These initiatives effectively communicated the journal’s academic vitality and continued potential for development.

Outlook

Looking ahead to 2026, ETAT will maintain its commitment to high-quality scholarly publishing while streamlining manuscript workflows to shorten publication timelines. The journal plans to broaden its coverage of emerging topics in oncology, ensuring its content remains both impactful and relevant. ETAT also aims to further expand its international editorial network, deepening collaboration with researchers worldwide. By continuing to leverage social media and strengthened database indexing, the journal will work to extend its global academic influence.

We sincerely thank our Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, Reviewers, and Authors for their exceptional contributions throughout 2025. In the coming year, ETAT looks forward to continued partnership with the academic community to foster open communication and drive innovation in oncology research.

Researchers are warmly invited to submit their work, follow our latest developments, and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Contact Information

Email: etatjournal@explorationpub.com

Journal Website: https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/etat

Submission Link: https://etat.aressystem.com/

Data note: All figures in this report are based on internal editorial office statistics as of December 31, 2025.

ETAT Annual Development Report 2025.pdf