Metaplasia--a transdifferentiation process that facilitates cancer development: the model of gastric intestinal metaplasia.
Metaplasia, in general, and intestinal metaplasia, in particular, are transdifferentiation processes triggered by environmental aggressions. The heterogeneity of different morphologic variants of metaplasia and distinction from close morphologic entities--heterotopia and hamartoma--is reviewed. Recent data on the characterization of the molecular and epidemiological data involved in the development and progression of lesions of gastric intestinal metaplasia are discussed. A redefinition of intestinal metaplasia is proposed.
Mesquita
Patrícia
P
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology (IPATIMUP), University of Porto, Portugal.
Raquel
Almeida
A
Nuno
Lunet
L
Reis
Celso A
CA
Silva
Luís Filipe Santos
LF
Serpa
Jacinta
J
Van Seuningen
Isabelle
I
Barros
Henrique
H
David
Leonor
L
D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008679:Metaplasia; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology