国内外的多项研究显示,在消化系统肿瘤中普遍存在上皮-间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transitions,EMT)现象,并与浸润转移及预后差密切相关。已有研究发现转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)在诱发EMT过程中起重要作用,而Smads蛋白是TGF-β下游关键的信号蛋白分子,是将TGF-β信号从细胞外转导到细胞核内的关键因子。本文就食管癌上皮-间质转化与TGF-β/Smad信号通路关系的研究进展作一综述。
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) phenomenon was common in digestive system tumors,and its associated with invasion,metastasis and poor prognosis.Studies have found that transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) plays an important role in inducing EMT,and Smads protein is a key signaling protein molecules downstream of TGF-β,TGF-β signaling transduction from the extracellular to the nucleus within the critical factor.This article reviews the progression of relationship between esophageal EMT and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.