Tumors, the Intestine’s

According to research conducted at North Carolina State University, the tumor microenvironment supports cancer cells during colon cancer development. In the colon cancer microenvironment, enteric glial cellswere found to secrete molecules stimulating colon cancer stem cellsand thereby stimulate tumor formation.

Unlike normal body cells, cancer stem cells have an unlimited capacity for division . These stem cells are key elements of cancer development, metastasis and resistance to anticancer drugs .

Although the origin of colon cancer stem cells is not fully clear, they are thought to arise from genetically and/or epigenetically damaged colonic epithelial stem cells. As in many cancers, the microenvironment of colon cancer stem cells is very important for tumor formation and development. Intercellular signaling in this microenvironment encourages colon cancer stem cells and other cells in the microenvironment to promote cancer formation and development. These characteristics make colon cancer stem cells important targets for cancer treatments.

Enteric glial cells are the most abundant cell type in the enteric (intestinal) nervous system, which extends along and surrounds the gastrointestinal system. These cells regulate the main functions of the epithelium by secreting certain factors (specific paracrine factors). In response to the interleukin-1 (IL-1) cytokine secreted by colon cancer stem cells, enteric glial cells secrete prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). The released PGE2 stimulates and accelerates tumor formation by colon cancer stem cells through the PGE2/EP4/EGFR signaling pathway. However, at baseline, enteric glial cells do not stimulate tumor formation.

Importance of the Study

Preventing IL-1/PGE2 paracrine signaling between colon cancer stem cells and enteric glial cells is important for new treatment approaches. Other studies have also shown that this signaling plays an important role in other cancer microenvironments. Examining and understanding this signaling is therefore important not only for colon cancer treatment but also as a general treatment approach.