Tang YC, Gao RP, Lv YX, Wang Y, Guo XB. Applications of nanozymes in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(44): 121972 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.121972]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Bo Guo, MD, Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, China. guo992352@hotmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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review-article
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Tang YC, Gao RP, Lv YX, Wang Y, Guo XB. Applications of nanozymes in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(44): 121972 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.121972]
Yue-Cui Tang, Ru-Ping Gao, Yu-Xi Lv, Department of Surgery, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250013, Shandong Province, China
Yu Wang, Xiao-Bo Guo, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: Tang YC and Guo XB wrote the paper; Gao RP, Lv YX, and Wang Y searched for articles and reviewed manuscripts; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: AI tools (GPT and Gemini) were used solely for linguistic refinement and formatting assistance. No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed and revised by the authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Xiao-Bo Guo, MD, Professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 9677 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250101, Shandong Province, China. guo992352@hotmail.com
Received: April 7, 2026 Revised: June 12, 2026 Accepted: July 20, 2026 Published online: November 28, 2026 Processing time: 176 Days and 9.5 Hours
Abstract
The incidence rate and mortality of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies such as gastric cancer and colorectal cancer continue to rise, which has become one of the important causes of cancer related deaths worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and have limited follow-up treatment options, resulting in a poor prognosis. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for controlling the development of diseases. Nanozymes have become a promising diagnostic and therapeutic tool due to their multi enzyme catalytic properties, showing broad application prospects in the field of GI malignancies. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms, functions, and application progress of various nanozymes in the diagnosis and treatment of this type of tumor, aiming to promote their translation from experimental research to clinical practice and provide new strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of GI malignancies.
Core Tip: Nanozymes, with their enzyme-mimicking catalytic activity, have demonstrated high sensitivity and stability in tumor marker detection, molecular imaging diagnosis, and pathological staining. Additionally, they achieve synergistic therapy for gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies through the generation of reactive oxygen species, regulation of the immune microenvironment, and as multifunctional drug carriers. Despite challenges remaining in biosafety, targeting, and clinical translation, they offer a new strategy for the early diagnosis and precise treatment of GI malignancies.
