Can Stopping Nerves, Stop Cancer?

Overview

Journal Trends Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2016 Nov 12

PMID 27832915

Citations 56

Authors

Jami L Saloman

Kathryn M Albers

Andrew D Rhim

Brian M Davis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The nervous system is viewed as a tissue affected by cancer and as a conduit for the transmission of cancer pain and perineural invasion. Here, we review recent studies that indicate a more direct role. Several studies have shown that reducing stress or suppressing sympathetic drive correlates with improved outcomes and prolonged survival. Recent studies using animal models of visceral and somatic cancer further support a role for the nervous system in cancer progression. Specifically, nerve ablation had a profound impact on disease progression, including delayed development of precancerous lesions, and decreased tumor growth and metastasis. In this review, we summarize new evidence and discuss how future studies may address the role of neural signaling in the modulation of tumorigenesis.

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