Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Aug 24, 2024; 15(8): 961-964
Published online Aug 24, 2024. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i8.961
Six transmembrane epithelial antigens of the prostate to illustrate inflammatory response in gastrointestinal cancers
Yi-Han Wu, Lian-Xiang Luo
Yi-Han Wu, The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, Guangdong Province, China
Lian-Xiang Luo, The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Luo LX conceived and designed the editorial, reviewed the paper and provided comments; Wu YH wrote the editorial. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Lian-Xiang Luo, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor, The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, No. 2 Wenming East Road, Zhanjiang 524000, Guangdong Province, China. luolianxiang321@gdmu.edu.cn
Received: December 28, 2023
Revised: June 14, 2024
Accepted: July 18, 2024
Published online: August 24, 2024
Processing time: 231 Days and 17.8 Hours
Abstract

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) is a common and widespread form of tumor, with colonoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy available to detect relevant precancerous polyps and lesions. However, many patients are already in the late stages when first diagnosed with such cancer, resulting in a poor prognosis. Thus, it is necessary to explore new methods and research directions in order to improve the treatment of GIC. Given the specific nature of the gastrointestinal tract, research should focus on the mechanisms of various inflammations and the interactions between food entering and exiting from the gastrointestinal tract and cancer cells. Interestingly, six transmembrane epithelial antigens of the prostates (STEAPs) have been found to be significantly linked to the progression of malignant tumors, associated with intracellular oxidative stress and playing a major role in inflammation with their structure and function. This paper explores the mechanism of STEAPs in the inflammatory response of GIC, providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and early intervention of GIC. The basic properties of the STEAP family as metal reductase are also explained. When it comes to intervention for GIC prevention, STEAPs can affect the activity of Fe3+, Cu2+ reductase and regulate metal ion uptake in vivo, participating in inflammation-related iron and copper homeostasis. Thus, the mechanism of STEAPs on inflammation is of important value in the prevention of GIC.

Keywords: Six transmembrane epithelial antigens of the prostate; Gastrointestinal cancer; Inflammation; Gastric cancer; Colorectal cancer; Hepatocellular carcinoma

Core Tip: Six transmembrane epithelial antigens of the prostate (STEAPs), a family of metal reductases, are associated with intracellular oxidative stress and an inflammatory reaction, while chronic inflammation has been linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers (GICs). This review of STEAPs offers a theoretical foundation for diagnosis and treatment approaches for GIC patients.