Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	119926
Country	China

Category	Oncology
Manuscript Type	Correspondence
Article Title	Letter to the Editor: Icaritin targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Na-Qi Sun, Han-Xiao Zhang and Sai-Jun Mo
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Foundation of Henan Educational Committee No. 26A310017 College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competitions No. 202510459174 and No. 2025cxcy639
Corresponding Author	Sai-Jun Mo, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Science Avenue, Zhongyuan District, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China. sjmo@zzu.edu.cn
Key Words	Icaritin; Colorectal cancer; Metastasis; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Core Tip	This commentary evaluates the study by Li et al, which suggests that icaritin inhibits colorectal cancer metastasis by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Although the findings are promising, changes in protein expression alone do not adequately confirm modulation of the pathway. Further research is necessary, including target localization studies and rescue experiments utilizing pathway activators, inhibitors, or gene modulation, to establish the dependence on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. For clinical translation, it is essential to validate targets, develop improved formulations to address issues of poor solubility and bioavailability, and conduct clinical trials to verify both efficacy and safety. Addressing these gaps will be crucial in establishing icaritin as a viable therapeutic strategy for the management of colorectal cancer.
Citation	Sun NQ, Zhang HX, Mo SJ. Letter to the Editor: Icaritin targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; In press

Received	2026-02-10 00:56
Peer-Review Started	2026-02-10 01:00
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-26 07:17
Return for Revision	2026-02-26 07:17
Revised	2026-03-06 15:48
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-04-22 02:35
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-22 05:32
Articles in Press	2026-04-22 05:32
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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