Plasticity of Differentiated Cells in Wound Repair and Tumorigenesis, Part II: Skin and Intestine

The document reviewed the concept of regenerative cellular plasticity, focusing on the skin and intestine, and explored how mature cells might contribute to tumorigenesis through a process called paligenosis. This process allows differentiated cells to re-enter the cell cycle, potentially accumulating oncogenic mutations in a model termed the 'cyclical hit' model of tumorigenesis. While differentiation and repair are well-studied in the skin and intestine, the exact role of mature cells in tumorigenesis was less clear. The review aimed to identify conserved mechanisms across the skin, intestine, stomach, and pancreas that could inform cancer therapy development.