Advances in the treatment of malignant tumors with neurological drugs.

Abstract

The nervous system governs the body's components and is essential for the physiological functions of all organ systems. The nervous system governs how the body senses, processes, and responds to its environment. Through a complex network of neurons and supporting cells, it connects sensory organs with the brain and spinal cord, and coordinates communication with target organs and tissues throughout the body. This integration of sensory, motor, autonomic, and endocrine functions makes the nervous system essential for maintaining homeostasis and systemic coordination.Consequently, it is anticipated that the nervous system exerts parallel regulatory influences on cancer. Over the past decade, studies have demonstrated a reciprocal relationship between the nervous system and cancer. Taking gliomas, prostate cancer, and breast cancer as examples, where specific nerve types (parasympathetic, sympathetic, or sensory) directly or indirectly control the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Similarly, cancer can reshape and hijack the structure and function of the nervous system. Chemotherapy has traditionally been the primary and most effective antitumor treatment, while the discovery of neuro-tumor interactions unveils novel strategies for repurposing neuroactive agents as adjuncts to this conventional therapeutic approach. This review elucidates cancer neuroscience through the examples of gliomas, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. Structured around key neuropharmacological receptors, the review systematically explores the potential applications of neuroactive agents and their targets across a broad spectrum of cancer therapies.