Yakar M. Letter to the Editor: Imaging biomarkers in rectal cancer - are we ready for clinical implementation? World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(10): 120231 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.120231]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Melek Yakar, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Odunpazarı, Eskisehir 26480, Türkiye. mcakcay@ogu.edu.tr
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Oncology
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letter
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Yakar M. Letter to the Editor: Imaging biomarkers in rectal cancer - are we ready for clinical implementation? World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(10): 120231 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.120231]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Oct 15, 2026; 18(10): 120231 Published online Oct 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.120231
Letter to the Editor: Imaging biomarkers in rectal cancer - are we ready for clinical implementation?
Melek Yakar
Melek Yakar, Department of Radiation Oncology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir 26480, Türkiye
Author contributions: Yakar M designed and wrote the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Conflict-of-interest statement: The author reports no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Melek Yakar, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Odunpazarı, Eskisehir 26480, Türkiye. mcakcay@ogu.edu.tr
Received: February 24, 2026 Revised: June 1, 2026 Accepted: June 29, 2026 Published online: October 15, 2026 Processing time: 208 Days and 0.8 Hours
Abstract
I read with interest the study by Nie et al entitled “Tumor-related imaging parameters predict response and survival after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer” published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. Response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer varies among patients with the same stage, age, and treatment regimen. Identifying parameters that can predict treatment response and survival in oncology patients is crucial for developing individualized treatments and achieving favorable oncological outcomes. Recent studies have attempted to reveal the relationship between radiological imaging and oncological outcomes. Although these studies demonstrated that magnetic resonance imaging-based tumor-related parameters may influence oncological outcomes, the findings regarding sarcopenia have been inconsistent. Overall, these studies suggest that pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging-based markers may be useful in predicting responses to chemoradiotherapy. However, further studies and standardization are required before these assessments can be implemented in routine clinical practice.
Core Tip: This article reviews a recent study examining the prognostic value of imaging parameters prior to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer. It highlights that sarcopenia is not an independent predictor of oncological outcomes, whereas radiological image-based parameters, such as tumor length, mesorectal fascia involvement, and nodal involvement, are significantly associated with oncological outcomes. These findings support the importance of pre-treatment imaging biomarkers in predicting oncological outcomes, and their clinical implications are discussed in the context of the current literature.
