Publication Name	World Journal of Gastroenterology
Manuscript ID	120289
Country	China

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Editorial
Article Title	Thalidomide for refractory hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis: Bridging the gap between symptom control and disease-modifying therapy
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Ya Deng, Zhi-Min Du, Hong-Fang Li and Fu-Shan Tang
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Fu-Shan Tang, PhD, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Guizhou Province and School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6 Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563006, Guizhou Province, China. fstang@vip.163.com
Key Words	Chronic radiation proctitis; Thalidomide; Pathogenesis; Drug therapy; Survivorship care
Core Tip	Low-dose thalidomide demonstrated an 83.9% clinical remission rate and favorable safety profile in refractory hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis (CRP) during a phase II trial, suggesting its potential as a systemic therapeutic option based on preliminary evidence. The observed discrepancy between symptom improvement and endoscopic findings underscores the necessity of including patient-reported outcomes alongside traditional objective metrics. This article reviews the pathogenesis and treatment options for CRP, interprets thalidomide’s clinical significance, evaluates the limitations of the study, and advocates for mechanism-based comprehensive management strategies during cancer survivorship.
Citation	Deng Y, Du ZM, Li HF, Tang FS. Thalidomide for refractory hemorrhagic chronic radiation proctitis: Bridging the gap between symptom control and disease-modifying therapy. World J Gastroenterol 2026; In press

Received	2026-02-24 01:05
Peer-Review Started	2026-02-24 01:05
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-10 09:33
Return for Revision	2026-04-10 09:33
Revised	2026-04-16 08:01
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-05-22 02:38
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-05-22 06:22
Articles in Press	2026-05-22 06:22
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1007-9327 (print) and 2219-2840 (online)
Open Access	Open-Access: This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
Copyright	©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
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