Nerve–cancer cell cross-talk: a novel promoter of tumor progression
Cancer research, 2015•AACR
Recent studies have revealed the essential role played by nerves in tumor progression.
Nerves have been shown to infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and actively stimulate
cancer cell growth and dissemination. This mechanism involves the release of
neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines and acetylcholine, directly into the vicinity of
cancer and stromal cells to activate corresponding membrane receptors. Conversely, the
secretion of neurotrophic growth factors by cancer cells drives the outgrowth of nerves in …
Nerves have been shown to infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and actively stimulate
cancer cell growth and dissemination. This mechanism involves the release of
neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines and acetylcholine, directly into the vicinity of
cancer and stromal cells to activate corresponding membrane receptors. Conversely, the
secretion of neurotrophic growth factors by cancer cells drives the outgrowth of nerves in …
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed the essential role played by nerves in tumor progression. Nerves have been shown to infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and actively stimulate cancer cell growth and dissemination. This mechanism involves the release of neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines and acetylcholine, directly into the vicinity of cancer and stromal cells to activate corresponding membrane receptors. Conversely, the secretion of neurotrophic growth factors by cancer cells drives the outgrowth of nerves in solid tumors. This reciprocal interaction between nerves and cancer cells provides new insights into the cellular and molecular bases of tumorigenesis and points to the potential utility of antineurogenic therapies. This review will discuss our evolving understanding of the cross-talk between nerves and cancer cells. Cancer Res; 75(9); 1777–81. ©2015 AACR.
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