Wang LB, Wang XM, Zhao XY, Wang GZ. Letter to the Editor: Origin recognition complex subunit 1 as a biomarker in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and pitfalls. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(26): 117508 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.117508]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Gong-Zheng Wang, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China. wanggz0322@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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letter
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Wang LB, Wang XM, Zhao XY, Wang GZ. Letter to the Editor: Origin recognition complex subunit 1 as a biomarker in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and pitfalls. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(26): 117508 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.117508]
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2026; 32(26): 117508 Published online Jul 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.117508
Letter to the Editor: Origin recognition complex subunit 1 as a biomarker in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and pitfalls
Lian-Bang Wang, Xi-Ming Wang, Xin-Ya Zhao, Gong-Zheng Wang
Lian-Bang Wang, Xi-Ming Wang, Xin-Ya Zhao, Gong-Zheng Wang, Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Xin-Ya Zhao and Gong-Zheng Wang.
Author contributions: Wang LB wrote the original draft; Wang GZ and Zhao XY contributed to conceptualization, writing, reviewing and editing, and contributed equally as co-corresponding authors; Wang GZ and Wang XM participated in drafting the manuscript; All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The entire main text was written exclusively by the authors. No generative AI was used to create any part of the text. Only ChatGPT was used for language polishing. All final wording was decided by the authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Corresponding author: Gong-Zheng Wang, MD, PhD, Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 324 Jingwu Road, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China. wanggz0322@163.com
Received: December 9, 2025 Revised: January 6, 2026 Accepted: February 3, 2026 Published online: July 14, 2026 Processing time: 201 Days and 3.4 Hours
Abstract
This commentary discusses the recent study by Feng et al published in World Journal of Gastroenterology. Serum origin recognition complex subunit 1 (ORC1) was identified as a potential biomarker for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study reported improved diagnostic accuracy when ORC1 was combined with extra spindle pole bodies-like 1 and alpha-fetoprotein, providing an opportunity to contextualize ORC1 within existing multi-marker biomarker strategies for hepatitis B virus-related HCC surveillance. These observations, along with the limitations of the study, are briefly discussed. Several suggestions have also been made regarding prospective validation and the incorporation of ORC1 into broader multi-marker surveillance strategies.
Core Tip: Serum origin recognition complex subunit 1 has emerged as a potential biomarker for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma, which improves diagnostic accuracy when combined with extra spindle pole bodies-like 1 and alpha-fetoprotein. These indicators may eventually be integrated into a unified surveillance model to enhance early detection. Large, multicenter prospective studies and standardized assay development are essential to confirm its applicability across diverse clinical settings.
