Zhang SK, Jiang L, Jiang CL, Cao Q, Chen YQ, Chi H. Unveiling genetic susceptibility in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and revolutionizing pancreatic cancer diagnosis through imaging. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2025; 17(6): 102544 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i6.102544]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hao Chi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, No. 319 Zhongshan Road, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China. chihao7511@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (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: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2025; 17(6): 102544 Published online Jun 15, 2025. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i6.102544
Unveiling genetic susceptibility in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and revolutionizing pancreatic cancer diagnosis through imaging
Sheng-Ke Zhang, Lai Jiang, Cheng-Lu Jiang, Qiang Cao, Yu-Quan Chen, Hao Chi
Sheng-Ke Zhang, Lai Jiang, Cheng-Lu Jiang, Hao Chi, Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
Qiang Cao, School of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China
Yu-Quan Chen, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3004, Australia
Author contributions: Zhang SK, Cao Q, Chen YQ, and Chi H designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Zhang SK, Jiang L, and Jiang CL contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; Zhang SK, Jiang L, and Jiang CL contributed to the writing, and editing the manuscript, illustrations; Cao Q, Chen YQ, and Chi H reviewed the literature.
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: Hao Chi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Clinical Medical College, Southwest Medical University, No. 319 Zhongshan Road, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China. chihao7511@gmail.com
Received: October 22, 2024 Revised: February 16, 2025 Accepted: April 14, 2025 Published online: June 15, 2025 Processing time: 234 Days and 18.7 Hours
Abstract
Two landmark studies demonstrate synergistic approaches to gastrointestinal cancer management. Lin et al identified activin A receptor type 1C polymorphisms (rs4556933/rs77886248) as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk modifiers in Chinese Han populations through a case-control study (1264 patients/1361 controls), revealing transforming growth factor-beta pathway-mediated susceptibility in older male smokers (P < 0.001). Concurrently, Luo et al established imaging-based differentiation of pancreatic cancer subtypes (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma vs neuroendocrine tumors) via retrospective analysis of 500 cases (area under the curve = 0.89), enabling earlier intervention. These findings underscore the transformative potential of combining genetic risk stratification with advanced imaging to guide precision screening and therapeutic strategies, addressing critical gaps in esophageal and pancreatic cancer outcomes.
Core Tip: This article highlights key advancements in cancer research through the integration of genetic and imaging data. The study by Lin et al identifies activin A receptor type 1C gene polymorphisms as significant risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, offering new possibilities for genetic screening and personalized prevention strategies in high-risk populations. Meanwhile, Luo et al’s analysis of imaging features correlated with pancreatic cancer subtypes, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors, enhances diagnostic precision. Together, these studies underscore the importance of combining molecular and imaging tools to refine early detection and optimize treatment approaches in oncology.
