Heat ‐Induced Inflammation and Its Role in Esophageal Cancer

Abstract Esophageal cancer as the sixth common cause of cancer death in the world consists of different histological types with various incidence patterns. Among them, esophageal adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma are the most prevalent types which also have different causality, cell of origin and risk factors. Since epidemiological studies have announced consumption of hot substances as one of the major risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma, evaluating the effect of this external stress on esophagus cells seems desirable. This specific kind of stress impose cellular changes and stabilize them through affecting different cellular features such as genetic stability, membrane integrity, and regulation of signaling pathways. It also causes tissue injury by affecting extracellular matrix and cell viability. Thus, one of the main consequences of thermal injury will be the activation of immune system, which can turn into chronic inflammation as a result of the persistent existence of the danger signal. Genetic alteration, which has occurred during thermal injury and the consequent reduction in function of repair systems is further strengthened by chronic inflammation thereby increase the probability of mutated cell lines appearance. Molecules that present in this circumstance such as heat shock proteins, cytokines, chemokines, and other inflammatory factors affect intercellular signaling pathways including NF‐kB, STAT3, and HIf‐1a in a way that support the...
Source: Journal of Digestive Diseases - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Invited review Source Type: research