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Review
. 2024 Dec 24;10(1):512.
doi: 10.1038/s41420-024-02275-x.

The plasticity of epithelial cells and its potential in the induced differentiation of gastric cancer

Ziwei Yan #  1   2   3 , Yingnan Liu #  1   2   3 , Yuan Yuan  4   5   6
Affiliations
Review

The plasticity of epithelial cells and its potential in the induced differentiation of gastric cancer

Ziwei Yan et al. Cell Death Discov. .

Abstract

Cell plasticity refers to the deviation of cells from normal terminal differentiation states when faced with environmental and genetic toxic stresses, resulting in the phenomenon of transforming into other cell or tissue phenotypes. Unlocking phenotype plasticity has been defined as a hallmark of malignant tumors. The stomach is one of the organs in the body with the highest degree of self-renewal and exhibits significant cell plasticity. In this paper, based on the review of the characteristics of normal differentiation of gastric epithelial cells and their markers, the four main phenotypes of gastric epithelial cell remodeling and their relationship with gastric cancer (GC) are drawn. Furthermore, we summarize the regulatory factors and mechanisms that affect gastric epithelial cell plasticity and outline the current status of research and future prospection for the treatment targeting gastric epithelial cell plasticity. This study has important theoretical reference value for the in-depth exploration of epithelial cell plasticity and the tumor heterogeneity caused by it, as well as for the precise treatment of GC.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Mechanisms affecting gastric epithelial cell plasticity.
Signaling pathways involved in gastric epithelial cell phenotypic transformation. The most important signaling pathways involved in gastric epithelial cell phenotypic transformation include Wnt signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, and Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathway and Hippo/YAP signaling pathway. The figure shows pathways that are activated in these processes (by Figdraw).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. The therapeutic potential of cellular plasticity in the induced differentiation of gastric cancer.
Small molecule compounds, organic compounds, and hormones have been applied to induce targeted differentiation of gastric cancer cells (by Figdraw).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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