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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2027; 33(2): 127120
Published online Jan 14, 2027. doi: 10.3748/wjg.127120
Published online Jan 14, 2027. doi: 10.3748/wjg.127120
Clinicopathologic and biomolecular features of interval colorectal cancers in Korean patients: A KASID multicenter prospective study
Joo Hye Song, Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul 03050, South Korea
Jeong Eun Shin, Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan 03050, South Korea
Dae Sung Kim, Department of Gastroenterology, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon 05505, South Korea
Yoo Jin Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu 42601, South Korea
Hee Chan Yang, Internal Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Chonbuk National University Hospital and Medical School, Jeonju-si 54907, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea
Kyeong Ok Kim, Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu 42115, South Korea
Jae Hyun Kim, Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 03050, South Korea
Gyeong Hoon Kang, Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, South Korea
Sung Ryul Shim, Biomedical Informatics, Konyang University, Daejeon 03050, South Korea
Kyu Chan Huh, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon 03050, South Korea
Kyu Chan Huh, Myunggok Medical Research Center, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon 03050, South Korea
Author contributions: Song JH contributed to study concept and design, data analysis and interpretation, and drafting of the manuscript; Shin JE, Kim DS, Lee YJ, Yang HC, Kim KO, and Kim JH contributed to data acquisition and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; Kang GH contributed to data analysis, material support, and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; Shim SR contributed to data and statistical analysis; Huh KC contributed to study concept and design, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting of the manuscript, and study supervision.
AI contribution statement: Portions of this manuscript were edited using AI tools solely for language refinement. The authors carefully reviewed and verified all AI-assisted outputs and take full responsibility for the scientific content of the manuscript.
Supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korea government, No. NRF-2017R1A2B2006514.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Konyang University Hospital (IRB No. 2017-06-007) and the remaining five participating hospitals.
Clinical trial registration statement: This study conformed to the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki. This study was an observational study and did not involve prospective assignment of interventions to human subjects. Therefore, it did not meet the ICMJE criteria requiring clinical trial registration.
Informed consent statement: Informed consent was obtained from all patients.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Kyu Chan Huh, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, 158 Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 03050, South Korea. kchuh@kyuh.ac.kr
Received: August 24, 2026
Revised: September 22, 2026
Accepted: October 29, 2026
Published online: January 14, 2027
Processing time: 82 Days and 0.4 Hours
Revised: September 22, 2026
Accepted: October 29, 2026
Published online: January 14, 2027
Processing time: 82 Days and 0.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This is the first study regarding the clinicopathological and biomolecular features of Korean patients with interval colorectal cancers (CRC). In our study, interval CRC were more common in males and located in the left colon, consistent with previous Asian, but in contrast to Western studies. The risk factors associated with survival were advanced stages and CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) (+). On the other hand, microsatellite instability (MSI) and BRAF (+) were protective factors for survival. Similar to western studies, CIMP was higher in interval CRCs. However, MSI, and BRAF mutations were not higher in interval CRCs, than sporadic CRCs, in contrast to Western studies.