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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2026; 18(6): 118121
Published online Jun 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i6.118121
Published online Jun 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i6.118121
Cadherin 6 drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition and oxaliplatin resistance in gastric cancer via transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling axis
Zong-Xian Zhao, Qin-Lingfei Liu, Jie-Xi Fan, Shu Zhu, Zong-Ju Hu, Department of General Surgery, Fuyang People’s Hospital, Fuyang 236000, Anhui Province, China
Fu-Sheng Wang, Department of Anorectal Surgery, Fuyang People’s Hospital, Fuyang 236000, Anhui Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Fu-Sheng Wang and Zong-Ju Hu.
Author contributions: Zhao ZX contributed to the experiments; Zhao ZX and Liu QL contributed to writing of the manuscript; Fan JX and Zhu S conceptualized and designed the research study; Hu ZJ assisted in the design of the study; Wang FS provided administrative, material support, and critical revisions; Wang FS and Hu ZJ contributed equally as co-corresponding authors. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Anhui Provincial Health Commission, No. AHWJ2023Baa20164 and No. AHWJ2023BBa20054.
Institutional review board statement: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Fuyang People’s Hospital, No.[2022]81.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: All animal procedures were approved by Institute of Health and Medical, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, No. IHM-AP-2025-075.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: The data generated or analyzed in this study are available from the corresponding author.
Corresponding author: Zong-Ju Hu, PhD, Department of General Surgery, Fuyang People’s Hospital, No. 501 Sanqing Road, Yingzhou District, Fuyang 236000, Anhui Province, China.
Received: December 25, 2025
Revised: January 18, 2026
Accepted: February 25, 2026
Published online: June 15, 2026
Processing time: 167 Days and 18.5 Hours
Revised: January 18, 2026
Accepted: February 25, 2026
Published online: June 15, 2026
Processing time: 167 Days and 18.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies globally and the molecular mechanisms of cadherin 6 (CDH6) in GC remain unclear. We verified that CDH6 is a key regulator in GC progression and oxaliplatin resistance. Mechanistically, CDH6 exerts its oncogenic effects by activating the transforming growth factor-β pathway and promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Targeting the CDH6/transforming growth factor-β/Smad axis may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome oxaliplatin resistance and improve clinical outcomes in GC patients.