brycewang-stanford Pre-Submission Preflight (cc-submission)
When to trigger
- About to click submit
- Unsure which files / statements the portal needs
- Final consistency pass across manuscript, figures, KRT, and declarations
Pre-submission checklist
Files & format
- Manuscript file (DOC/DOCX or PDF per current spec), line/page numbers on
- Figures at required resolution and format (TIFF/EPS/PDF); each cited in order
- Supplemental items packaged; supplemental tables/data referenced in text
- Graphical abstract file (if used) at required size/resolution
- Cover letter attached (from
cc-cover-letter) - Highlights and eTOC blurb included (from
cc-structured-abstract)
STAR Methods & rigor
- STAR Methods headings complete; Key Resources Table at the top
- Every antibody / cell line / organism / plasmid / software has source + RRID
- Cell lines authenticated; mycoplasma-negative stated
- Animal section: sample size, randomization, blinding, exclusions
Statistics
-
ndefined per panel as biological replicates; no pseudo-replication - Tests named; multiple comparisons / FDR corrected
- Error bars defined (SD/SEM/CI) in every legend; exact p where feasible
Figures & integrity
- Each representative image paired with replicate quantification
- Uncropped blots in supplement; no undisclosed splicing; linear adjustments
- Scale bars and labeled axes/markers present
Ethics & availability
- IACUC approval + protocol # (if animals); IRB + consent + Helsinki (if human)
- Data and code availability statement complete; accessions match the KRT
- Deposition records created (GEO/SRA/PRIDE/PDB) with reviewer tokens if needed
- Competing interests, funding, and author contributions stated; ORCIDs linked
Front matter & consistency
- Summary within word limit; Highlights within count/length
- Gene/protein nomenclature consistent across text, figures, front matter
- Every in-text figure/table/reference citation resolves; reference style correct
- Claims match evidence (no therapeutic claim without in vivo/human support)
Portal logistics
- Submit through the Cell Press portal linked from the Cancer Cell author page (verify current URL).
- Have suggested/excluded reviewers ready; complete all required metadata fields.
- Confirm corresponding author and all co-author details/affiliations.
- Verify volatile items (word/figure limits, fees, required statements) on the live author page — they change.
Anti-patterns
- Submitting with sequencing/proteomics data "available on request"
- Key Resources Table missing or with reagents lacking RRIDs
- Cell lines unauthenticated / no mycoplasma statement
- Representative images with no quantification
- Mismatched accessions between KRT and availability statement
- Figures not cited in order; broken cross-references
Submission readiness pass for Cancer Cell
Use this as a second-pass capability check. First lock the cancer context, mechanism, model system, validation chain, and translational boundary; then test whether the manuscript addresses cancer-biology reviewers who expect mechanistic oncology, translational relevance, and strong multi-modal validation.
- Primary move: Verify portal, article type, anonymity, declarations, files, data/code, and current source-map facts; return blockers before formatting advice.
- Decision ledger: return
claim / evidence / blocker / next editrows so the next pass can patch the manuscript directly. - Neighbor test: compare against Cell for broader biology, Nature Cancer for oncology breadth, Clinical Cancer Research for clinical translation; if the neighboring outlet has the stronger audience claim, recommend re-routing before polishing.
- Verification floor: before submission-ready advice, re-open
resources/official-source-map.mdfor volatile rules and name the one unresolved fact that could change the recommendation.
Output format
【Files】manuscript / figures / supplement / graphical abstract / cover letter complete?
【STAR Methods + KRT】complete? RRIDs present?
【Rigor】authentication / mycoplasma / animal rigor OK?
【Statistics】n / tests / multiplicity / error bars OK?
【Integrity】quantification / raw blots / scale bars OK?
【Ethics & data】approvals + accessions + code DOI present?
【Front matter】Summary / Highlights / nomenclature consistent?
【Next step】Submit → await reviews → cc-peer-review-revision
Related resources
templates/manuscript_template.md— Cell Press manuscript skeleton (Summary, Highlights, STAR Methods, Key Resources Table, data availability)templates/checklist.md— Full pre-submission self-check across scope, rigor, statistics, figures, ethics, and deposition../../resources/external_tools.md— Repositories (GEO/SRA/PRIDE/PDB), reporting frameworks, and bioinformatics / imaging software