Stem cells and origins of cancer in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Yoku Hayakawa; Hiroshi Nakagawa; Anil K Rustgi; Jianwen Que; Timothy C Wang

doi:10.1016/j.stem.2021.05.012

Stem cells and origins of cancer in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Cell Stem Cell. 2021 Aug 5;28(8):1343-1361. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.05.012. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Authors

Yoku Hayakawa¹, Hiroshi Nakagawa², Anil K Rustgi², Jianwen Que³, Timothy C Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
² Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA.
³ Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia Center for Human Development, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

The esophagus and stomach, joined by a unique transitional zone, contain actively dividing epithelial stem cells required for organ homeostasis. Upon prolonged inflammation, epithelial cells in both organs can undergo a cell fate switch leading to intestinal metaplasia, predisposing to malignancy. Here we discuss the biology of gastroesophageal stem cells and their role as cells of origin in cancer. We summarize the interactions between the stromal niche and gastroesophageal stem cells in metaplasia and early expansion of mutated stem-cell-derived clones during carcinogenesis. Finally, we review new approaches under development to better study gastroesophageal stem cells and advance the field.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Barrett Esophagus*
Humans
Metaplasia
Neoplasms*
Stem Cells

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding