Pathogenesis of ECL cell tumors in humans

Yale J Biol Med. 1998 May-Aug;71(3-4):273-84.

Abstract

In ECL cell tumors developed in the setting of hypergastrinemic conditions (ECL cell carcinoids type 1 and 2), hypergastrinemia is the dominant agent acting as a promoter in all steps (hyperplasia-dysplasia-neoplasia) of the tumorigenic sequence. In contrast, it apparently lacks transforming properties as shown by the absence of ECL cell carcinoids in patients exposed to hypergastrinemia alone, i.e., those with sporadic Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The potential transforming factors include: the allelic loss of the MEN-1 suppressor gene in the genetically predisposed MEN-1 patients, an alteration that may induce ECL cell tumors even in the absence of hypergastrinemia; the still unknown factor(s) associated with atrophic corporal gastritis; agents whose role in the induction of human ECL cell tumors is still unclarified, such as basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, human Chorionic Gonadotropin-alpha and Transforming Growth Factor-alpha; and agents having a favoring role on the ECL exposure to mitogens such as BCL-2. No information is currently available on the pathogenesis of gastrin-independent, sporadic ECL cell carcinoids (type 3) or of gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoid Tumor / epidemiology
  • Carcinoid Tumor / pathology*
  • Enterochromaffin-like Cells / metabolism*
  • Enterochromaffin-like Cells / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Gastrins / metabolism
  • Gastritis, Atrophic / pathology
  • Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / analysis
  • Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / genetics
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Gastrins
  • Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2