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0This comprehensive review defines the burgeoning field of cancer neuroscience, which explores the bidirectional relationship between the nervous system and malignant tumors. The text details established mechanisms where neurons drive cancer growth through synaptic interactions, paracrine signaling, and metabolic support, while cancer-intrinsic neural features allow tumors to hijack developmental programs for treatment resistance. It further examines emerging research into how circadian rhythms, sleep, and brain-body communication influence systemic cancer progression and metastasis. Beyond biological discovery, the authors advocate for neuroscience-instructed cancer therapies (NiCT) that repurpose neuroactive drugs to disrupt these pro-tumor circuits. By integrating advanced imaging and multi-omics, the field aims to improve patient outcomes by targeting the neural dependencies of cancer. Ultimately, this roadmap positions the nervous system as a central hallmark of cancer that is essential for future oncological innovation.
References:
Winkler F, Heuer S, Althammer F, et al. Cancer neuroscience: The past, the present, and the road ahead[J]. Cell, 2026, 189(8): 2464-2489.
