Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2025; 31(18): 104525
Published online May 14, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i18.104525
Triglyceride-glucose index in predicting gastric cancer prognosis: A need for caution
Yi-Fan Zhao, Jia-Hui Lv, De-Fang Chen, Zhi-Hui Wang, Yun Teng, Michael Ntim, Min Xia, Shao Li, Bin Wang
Yi-Fan Zhao, Jia-Hui Lv, Zhi-Hui Wang, Yun Teng, Michael Ntim, Min Xia, Shao Li, Bin Wang, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, College of Basic Medical Sciences, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Drug Research, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116000, Liaoning Province, China
De-Fang Chen, Department of Emergency Medicine, Qingpu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, China
Michael Ntim, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ashanti, Ghana
Co-first authors: Yi-Fan Zhao and Jia-Hui Lv.
Co-corresponding authors: Shao Li and Bin Wang.
Author contributions: Zhao YF and Lv JH contributed equally to this work as co-first authors, while Li S and Wang B shared responsibilities as co-corresponding authors; Zhao YF and Lv JH were responsible for the conceptualization and design of this editorial, conducting an extensive literature review, synthesizing key insights, and drafting the manuscript, while Chen DF, serving as the primary supervisor, completed the initial and second revisions of the manuscript. They played a crucial role in shaping the structure, identifying key issues, and ensuring that the discussion was both comprehensive and thought-provoking. Teng Y and Wang ZH contributed significantly to literature screening, and reference management. They assisted in structuring the manuscript, verifying sources, and refining key arguments to improve clarity and coherence. Additionally, they provided critical feedback during the revision process to enhance the overall narrative and ensure a well-supported discussion. Ntim M conducted thorough language review and professional polishing of the manuscript, addressing grammatical inaccuracies, enhancing readability, and ensuring adherence to academic writing standards. This included refining technical terminology, streamlining complex sentences, and harmonizing stylistic consistency across the text to align with the target journal's guidelines. Li S, Xia M, and Wang B supervised the entire process, offering valuable intellectual guidance and ensuring the scientific rigor of the article. They were actively involved in multiple rounds of revision, providing constructive critiques and refining key arguments to enhance the clarity and impact of the manuscript. Wang B also played an essential role in securing institutional support for this work, facilitating access to relevant research resources. This collaboration brought together diverse expertise, resulting in a well-rounded and insightful editorial. Each author made significant and indispensable contributions, ensuring the successful completion and publication of this work.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82301700 (to Wang B) and No. 82471464 (to Li S); Liaoning Province Natural Science Foundation Project, No. 2023-MS-266 (to Teng Y) and No. 2024-MS-157 (to Wang B); Youth Talent Cultivation Fund Key Project of Dalian Medical University (to Wang B); Scientific Research Projects from Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, No. WX23Z26 (to Xia M); and Research Project Plan of the Qingpu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital, No. QYT2023-02 (to Chen DF).
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Bin Wang, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, College of Basic Medical Sciences, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Drug Research, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116000, Liaoning Province, China. wb101900@126.com
Received: December 24, 2024
Revised: March 2, 2025
Accepted: March 27, 2025
Published online: May 14, 2025
Processing time: 141 Days and 2.2 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: The triglyceride-glucose index, a straightforward marker of insulin resistance, demonstrates potential as a prognostic tool for gastric cancer, correlating with diminished overall survival and progression-free survival. However, its limited cancer specificity, inconsistent cutoff values, and ambiguous mechanistic role in tumor progression necessitate cautious interpretation. Future research should aim to integrate the triglyceride-glucose index with other cancer-specific biomarkers to enhance prognosis prediction and tailor treatment strategies. Prospective, multicenter studies are crucial for validating its clinical utility.