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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Apr 15, 2026; 18(4): 116949
Published online Apr 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i4.116949
Published online Apr 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i4.116949
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic screening serves as a primary prevention approach by reducing modifiable risk factors
Xiang-Wen Cheng, Zhen Liu, Chuan-Hai Guo, Ya-Qi Pan, Ying Liu, Fang-Fang Liu, Huan-Yu Chen, Wen-Lei Yang, Hong-Rui Tian, Zhong-Hu He, Meng-Fei Liu, Yang Ke, Department of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing 100142, China
Feng-Lei Li, Hua County People’s Hospital, Anyang 456483, Henan Province, China
Chao Shi, Ningxia Clinical Research Institute, People’s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750001, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China
Co-first authors: Xiang-Wen Cheng and Zhen Liu.
Co-corresponding authors: Zhong-Hu He and Meng-Fei Liu.
Author contributions: Cheng XW was responsible for drafting of the manuscript; Cheng XW and Liu Z were responsible for statistical analysis as co-first authors; Cheng XW, Liu Z, He ZH, Liu MF, and Ke Y were responsible for analysis and interpretation of the data; Cheng XW, Liu Z, Guo CH, Li FL, Pan YQ, Liu Y, Liu FF, Chen HY, Yang WL, Tian HR, Shi C, He ZH, and Liu MF were responsible for acquisition of data; He ZH and Liu MF have played important and indispensable roles in the experimental design as co-corresponding authors; He ZH, Liu MF, and Ke Y were responsible for study concept and design, study supervision and critical revision of the article; all authors had access to the study data and reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Key R&D Program of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, No. 2025BEG01011; and Science and Technology Plan of Tibet Autonomous Region, No. XZ202501JD0021.
Institutional review board statement: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing, China (No. 2011101110).
Clinical trial registration statement: The manuscript has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT01688908.
Informed consent statement: All participants provided written informed consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 Statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 Statement.
Data sharing statement: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its Supplementary material.
Corresponding author: Meng-Fei Liu, PhD, Professor, Department of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China.
Received: November 26, 2025
Revised: January 14, 2026
Accepted: February 9, 2026
Published online: April 15, 2026
Processing time: 134 Days and 4.2 Hours
Revised: January 14, 2026
Accepted: February 9, 2026
Published online: April 15, 2026
Processing time: 134 Days and 4.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study provides novel evidence that upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopic screening contributes to primary cancer prevention by reducing modifiable risk factors. Based on a population-based randomized controlled trial, we showed that UGI screening significantly promoted the reduction of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and unhealthy dietary habits, particularly among women and older adults. These findings highlight the potential of UGI endoscopic screening to modify behavioral risk factors at the population level, underscoring its broader preventive value in cancer control strategies. Integrating health education into UGI screening programs may further enhance its effectiveness in reducing the cancer burden.