Peripheral nerves-cancer cross-talk: the next frontier in cancer treatment.

Abstract

The nervous system, which regulates organogenesis, homeostasis, and plasticity of the organism during human growth and development, integrates physiological functions of all organ systems, including the immune system. Its extensive network of branches throughout the body reaches the tumor microenvironment (TME), where it secretes neurotransmitters that directly regulate or influence immune cells. This, in turn, indirectly affects the occurrence, development, and metastasis of cancer. Conversely, cancer cells are now understood to secrete neurotrophic factors that remodel the nervous system. Targeting the cross-talk between the nervous system and cancer represents a promising strategy for cancer treatment, some aspects of which have been confirmed in clinical trials. This review addresses gaps in our understanding of the interaction between peripheral nerves and various human cancers. At the intersection of neuroscience and cancer biology, new targets for neuroscience-based cancer therapies are emerging, establishing a significant new pillar in cancer treatment.