Neuroendocrine influences on cancer progression.
During the past decade, new studies have continued to shed light on the role of neuroendocrine regulation of downstream physiological and biological pathways relevant to cancer growth and progression. More specifically, our knowledge of the effects of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on cancer biology has been greatly expanded by new data demonstrating how the cellular immune response, inflammatory processes, tumor-associated angiogenesis, and tumor cell invasion and survival converge to promote tumor growth. This review will summarize these studies, while synthesizing clinical, cellular and molecular research that has continued to unearth the biological events mediating the interplay between SNS-related processes and cancer progression.
Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Guillermo N
GN
Armaiz-Pena
Steve W
SW
Cole
Susan K
SK
Lutgendorf
Anil K
AK
Sood
D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*