Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	125302
DOI	10.4251/wjgo.125302
Country	India

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Minireviews
Article Title	Dioxin-associated hepatocarcinogenesis: Multi-omics biomarkers, mechanistic pathways, and translational challenges
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Muhammad Afzal, Surya Nath Pandey, Arcot Rekha, Rajat Sharma, Mahavir Rajput, Kavita Goyal, Prerna Uniyal, Asad Amir, Mokhtar Rejili and Md Sadique Hussain
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Md Sadique Hussain, Assistant Professor, PhD, Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Prem Nagar, Dehra Dun 248007, Uttarakhand, India. sadiquehussain007@gmail.com
Key Words	Dioxin; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Serum metabolomics; Epigenomics; Lipid metabolism; Occupational biomarkers
Core Tip	Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance relies on alpha-fetoprotein, which misses many early-stage tumors and has never been validated in workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). This review synthesizes metabolomic, proteomic, and epigenomic evidence showing that TCDD drives hepatocarcinogenesis through aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated reprogramming of lipid metabolism, the serum proteome, and DNA methylation. Candidate biomarkers, including bile acids, lysophosphatidylcholines, multi-protein panels, and circulating lncRNAs, are evaluated for diagnostic performance and laboratory readiness. A novel, but conceptual and unvalidated three-tiered occupational surveillance algorithm, combining hepatic enzymes, high-resolution serum TCDD quantification, and confirmatory multi-omics testing, is proposed to close the translational gap in early hepatocellular carcinoma detection.
Citation	Afzal M, Pandey SN, Rekha A, Sharma R, Rajput M, Goyal K, Uniyal P, Amir A, Rejili M, Hussain MS. Dioxin-associated hepatocarcinogenesis: Multi-omics biomarkers, mechanistic pathways, and translational challenges. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.4251/wjgo.125302
PDF	125302-in-press.pdf

Received	2026-07-03 03:17
Peer-Review Started	2026-07-03 03:18
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
Return for Revision	2026-08-14 09:45
Revised	2026-08-31 22:37
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-11-12 06:31
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-11-12 09:57
Articles in Press	2026-11-12 09:57
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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