Xue KL, Jia XH, Qi WT, Wang JW, Liang L. Bridging metabolism and tumorigenesis: Insights from the Wnt/β-Catenin/TCF7L2 pathway in association between type 2 diabetes and colorectal adenomas. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(6): 118213 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.118213]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Lei Liang, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Ultrasound, Aerospace Center Hospital, No. 15 Yuquan Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100049, China. lianglei_csk@126.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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editorial
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Xue KL, Jia XH, Qi WT, Wang JW, Liang L. Bridging metabolism and tumorigenesis: Insights from the Wnt/β-Catenin/TCF7L2 pathway in association between type 2 diabetes and colorectal adenomas. World J Gastrointest Surg 2026; 18(6): 118213 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.118213]
World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2026; 18(6): 118213 Published online Jun 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.118213
Bridging metabolism and tumorigenesis: Insights from the Wnt/β-Catenin/TCF7L2 pathway in association between type 2 diabetes and colorectal adenomas
Kai-Lin Xue, Xiao-Hua Jia, Wan-Ting Qi, Jing-Wen Wang, Lei Liang
Kai-Lin Xue, Peking University Aerospace School of Clinical Medicine, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China
Xiao-Hua Jia, Wan-Ting Qi, Jing-Wen Wang, Lei Liang, Department of Ultrasound, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China
Co-first authors: Kai-Lin Xue and Xiao-Hua Jia.
Author contributions: Xue KL and Jia XH contributed to conceptualization, writing the original draft, and they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors; Xue KL, Jia XH, Qi WT, and Wang JW participated in searching for and organizing literature; Xue KL and Liang L contributed to reviewing and editing. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 62371010.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Lei Liang, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Ultrasound, Aerospace Center Hospital, No. 15 Yuquan Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100049, China. lianglei_csk@126.com
Received: December 28, 2025 Revised: January 19, 2026 Accepted: January 26, 2026 Published online: June 27, 2026 Processing time: 169 Days and 18.1 Hours
Abstract
In this editorial, we comment on the article by Gui et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. They retrospective study provides novel molecular insights into the link between type 2 diabetes mellitus and colorectal adenomas. By identifying elevated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin/transcription factor 7 like 2 pathways in patient tissues, the research proposes a key mechanistic bridge between metabolic dysfunction and tumorigenesis, moving beyond traditional explanations like hyperinsulinemia. While acknowledging this as an important proof-of-concept, the work is limited by its retrospective design and small sample size, leaving causality unclear. Future research should utilize prospective cohort studies to correlate Wnt pathway dynamics with colonoscopy outcomes. Functional validation is also essential, requiring in vivo diabetic models and patient-derived organoids to establish causality and refine mechanistic inquiry. Ultimately, further interdisciplinary research is needed to fully unravel the shared biology of these metabolic and neoplastic diseases.
Core Tip: Gui et al’s recent study identifies the Wnt/β-catenin/transcription factor 7 like 2 pathways as a potential molecular link between type 2 diabetes mellitus and colorectal adenomas. Despite the retrospective design and associated limitations, the study provides mechanistic insight beyond traditional hypotheses and highlights the need for further validation.
