Most epithelial cancers occur on the background of chronic exposure to damaging agents which is reflected in the long lag phase from development of a pre-invasive lesion to the development of a carcinoma. Luminal refluxate has long been recognized to be associated with Barrett's oesophagus, although causal mechanisms have not been clearly defined. Recently, obesity and dietary nitric oxide have also been implicated in the disease pathogenesis. We have demonstrated that acid can alter cell kinetics and, together with nitric oxide, can induce double-stranded DNA breaks. Aside from exposure to luminal factors, the stromal micro-environment may also be important. There is increasing evidence to suggest that inflammatory pathways such as TGF (transforming growth factor) β may play a role in Barrett's oesophagus carcinogenesis. Hence stromal–epithelial–luminal interactions may influence cell behaviour. As sequelae to this, it is possible that the niches created by the micro-environment may influence genetic epithelial diversity observed within the Barrett's oesophagus segment.
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April 2010
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Conference Article|
March 22 2010
Role of the micro-environment in Barrett's carcinogenesis
Pierre Lao-Sirieix;
Pierre Lao-Sirieix
1MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, U.K.
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Rebecca C. Fitzgerald
Rebecca C. Fitzgerald
1
1MRC Cancer Cell Unit, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email rcf@hutchison-mrc.cam.ac.uk).
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Biochem Soc Trans (2010) 38 (2): 327–330.
Article history
Received:
October 14 2009
Citation
Pierre Lao-Sirieix, Rebecca C. Fitzgerald; Role of the micro-environment in Barrett's carcinogenesis. Biochem Soc Trans 1 April 2010; 38 (2): 327–330. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0380327
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