Chronic stress-induced cholesterol metabolism abnormalities promote ESCC tumorigenesis and predict neoadjuvant therapy response

Recent studies have demonstrated that chronic stress can enhance the development of multiple human diseases, including cancer. However, the role of chronic stress in esophageal carcinogenesis and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study uncovered that dysregulated cholesterol metabolism significantly promotes esophageal carcinogenesis under chronic stress conditions. Our findings indicate that the persistent elevation of glucocorticoids induced by chronic stress stimulates cho-lesterol uptake, contributing to esophageal carcinogenesis. The activated glucocor-ticoid receptor (GCR) enrichment at the promoter region of High Mobility Group Box Protein 2 (HMGB2) facilitates its transcription. As a transcription co-activator, HMGB2 enhances Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Transcription Factor 1 (SREBF1) transcription and regulates cholesterol metabolism through LDL particle uptake into cells via Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor (LDLR). These results em-phasize the significant impact of chronic stress on esophageal carcinogenesis and establish cholesterol metabolism disorder as a crucial link between chronic stress and the development of ESCC. The implications suggest that effectively managing chronic stress may serve as a viable strategy for preventing and treating ESCC.