Over time, just like with squamous cell carcinoma, mutations might accumulate in either tumor suppressor genes or proto-oncogenes that control the division of these metaplastic cells, ultimately resulting in a malignant tumor.

长此以往，和食管鳞癌一样，抑癌基因和原癌基因会积累一系列突变，那些控制着化生细胞的细胞周期的基因突变最终会导致恶性肿瘤。

Metaplasia refers to the replacement of one mature cell type with another mature cell type: for example, squamous metaplasia of the respiratory columnar epithelium - as evidenced by the metaplastic cough of a smoker.

化生是指一种成熟细胞类型被另一种类型的成熟细胞替代。例如，呼吸柱状上皮的鳞状化生由吸烟者的化生咳嗽证明。