Xie RX, Xing YX, Sun NZ. Integrating nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers in colorectal cancer management: Implications of microsatellite instability status. World J Gastrointest Surg 2025; 17(8): 108150 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i8.108150]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Nian-Zhe Sun, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87 Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China. sunnzh201921@sina.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Surg. Aug 27, 2025; 17(8): 108150 Published online Aug 27, 2025. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i8.108150
Integrating nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers in colorectal cancer management: Implications of microsatellite instability status
Ren-Xian Xie, Yi-Xuan Xing, Nian-Zhe Sun
Ren-Xian Xie, Nian-Zhe Sun, Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
Ren-Xian Xie, Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515031, Guangdong Province, China
Yi-Xuan Xing, Department of Emergency, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
Nian-Zhe Sun, National Clinical Research Center of Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Yi-Xuan Xing and Nian-Zhe Sun.
Author contributions: Xie RX wrote the first draft and developed the main ideas; Xing YX and Sun NZ provided critical feedback, led revisions, improved the structure, and added key examples, and they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-corresponding authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Nian-Zhe Sun, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87 Xiangya Road, Kaifu District, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China. sunnzh201921@sina.com
Received: April 7, 2025 Revised: May 24, 2025 Accepted: July 11, 2025 Published online: August 27, 2025 Processing time: 140 Days and 20.5 Hours
Abstract
The retrospective cohort study by Zuo et al investigates the interplay between microsatellite instability (MSI) status, nutritional indicators, and inflammatory profiles in colorectal cancer (CRC). Analyzing 56 patients, the study reveals that MSI-high tumors are associated with significantly lower serum albumin, body mass index, and absolute lymphocyte counts, alongside elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios compared to microsatellite stable tumors. These findings highlight distinct immunological and nutritional profiles in MSI-high CRC, suggesting potential clinical utility in risk stratification and personalized treatment. While the study underscores the importance of MSI status in CRC management, its single-center design and limited sample size warrant validation through multicenter trials. This article contextualizes these findings within the broader landscape of CRC research, emphasizing the need for integrating biomarker-driven strategies into clinical practice to optimize outcomes for patients with differing MSI statuses.
Core Tip: Zuo et al demonstrate that colorectal cancer patients with microsatellite instability (MSI) exhibit distinct nutritional and inflammatory profiles, including lower serum albumin, body mass index, and lymphocyte counts, alongside elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios. These differences underscore the potential of MSI status to guide tailored nutritional support and immunomodulatory therapies, addressing the unique pathophysiological needs of MSI-high patients. Future research should explore how these biomarkers influence treatment responses and long-term survival.
