A numerical value, derived from citation data, serves as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal publishing research bridging basic scientific discovery and its application to cancer treatment and prevention. It reflects the average number of times articles published in that journal within the previous two years have been cited in the current year. For example, a figure of 5.0 indicates that, on average, each article published in the journal during the past two years has been cited five times in the current year.
This metric provides a readily accessible, albeit imperfect, indicator of a journal’s influence within the field. It can inform decisions regarding where researchers choose to submit their work, potentially enhancing the visibility and impact of their findings. Furthermore, the trend over time can offer insights into the evolving landscape of cancer research and the dissemination of knowledge within the scientific community.