肿瘤干细胞相关信号通路与食管鳞癌的研究进展

Advances in research of signaling pathways associated with cancer stem cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

由于肿瘤干细胞的发现,人们对肿瘤发生、发展、转移机制有了进一步了解.Wnt/β-catenin、PIP3、Hedgehog等信号通路对肿瘤干细胞自我更新与分化起重要作用,一旦信号通路发生异常,即可促肿瘤干细胞异常分化和无限增殖.虽不能完全确定食管鳞癌存在肿瘤干细胞,但越来越多证据提示,这3条肿瘤干细胞信号通路促食管上皮组织不良分化、食管癌发生发展进程甚至放化疗抵抗.

The discovery of cancer stem cells has led to a better understanding of mechanisms underly- ing the occurrence, development and metastasis of cancer. Three signaling pathways, Wnt, PIP3, and Hedgehog, play an important role in selfrenewal and differentiation of stem cells. Once abnormalities occur in these signaling pathways, cancer stem cells will present aberrant differentiation and unlimited proliferation and eventually develop into tumors. Although there is still controversy over the existence of stem cells in esoph- ageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC）, more and more evidence suggests that the above three signaling pathways are important in promoting the differentiation of esophageal epithelial cells, accelerating the progression of ESCC and causing radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance.