Neuro-endocrine neoplasms as a result of gene desuppression rather than of a specific cell type of origin.
Neuroendocrine differentiation more closely approximates a process of acquisition of features that ambiguously recapitulate certain cellular biologic properties that transgress normal lines of differentiation as these are generally recognized. In fact, it might be more realistic to consider neuroendocrine tumors the result of a process of progressive desuppression via pathways of altered gene expression that would perhaps reflect basic and dynamic aspects of neoplastic transformation and progression in general. In a final analysis, the character and degree of differentiation of a neoplasm might actually often constitute an anomalous combination of features outside the range of normal differentiation pathways and more an expression of an assorted mixture of partially suppressed or desuppressed gene expression profiles as these affect neoplastic cell pathobiology.
Agius
Lawrence M
LM
St. Luke's Hospital, University of Malta, MSIDA, Europe. lawrence.agius@um.edu.mt
D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology