Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	118319
Country	China

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Review
Article Title	Converting cold to hot: Strategies to sensitize microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer to immunotherapy
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Feng Chi, Chi-Bo Liu, Jian Li, Xian-Wu Xia, Qian-Jin Hua and Wei Wang
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Wei Wang, MD, Research Dean, Researcher, Department of Interventional Oncology, Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Taizhou University, No. 581 Shifu Avenue East, Jiaojiang District, Taizhou 318000, Zhejiang Province, China. wangw@tzc.edu.cn
Key Words	Adoptive cell therapy; Anti-angiogenic therapy; Biomarkers; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immune exclusion; Microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer; Tumor microenvironment; Vaccine
Core Tip	Most colorectal cancers are microsatellite-stable (MSS)/proficient mismatch repair and remain largely refractory to single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors. This review dissects major resistance determinants low neoantigen burden, impaired antigen presentation, immune exclusion by cancer-associated fibroblast-rich stroma and abnormal vasculature, and myeloid-dominant suppression, particularly in liver metastases. We synthesize current evidence for rational “cold-to-hot” strategies, spanning chemo/radiotherapy priming, anti-angiogenic and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor regimens, mitogen-activated protein kinase/Wnt/transforming growth factor-β/CXCR4-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway targeting, and emerging vaccines, oncolytic viruses, cell therapies, and microbiome modulation. A biomarker-guided roadmap is proposed to personalize combination immunotherapy in MSS colorectal cancer.
Citation	Chi F, Liu CB, Li J, Xia XW, Hua QJ, Wang W. Converting cold to hot: Strategies to sensitize microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer to immunotherapy. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; In press

Received	2025-12-30 05:59
Peer-Review Started	2025-12-30 05:59
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-01-06 07:10
Return for Revision	2026-01-06 07:10
Revised	2026-01-12 14:12
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-02-09 02:47
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-09 08:41
Articles in Press	2026-02-09 08:41
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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