Fig. 2: The role of Cox-2 in foregut basal stem/progenitor cells during the earliest stages of SCC formation.
From: New insights into the functions of Cox-2 in skin and esophageal malignancies
a Cellular diversity and anatomical distinctions between esophageal SCCs and Barrett’s adenocarcinoma. While SCCs are known to arise from basal stem/progenitors within the squamous epithelium, the cellular origins of Barrett’s adenocarcinoma could be variable. Examples include Krt7-positive transitional basal cells and residual embryonic stem cells at the squamous columnar junctional regions. b Cox-2 can be upregulated by cellular extrinsic stress factors such as smoking and gastric acid reflux, which in turn accelerate tumorigenesis. However, Cox-2 inhibition can significantly suppress tumor formation from tumor-prone basal stem/progenitor cells and has features that support a more differentiated cell fate.
