title: Effects on DNA Damage and/or Repair Processes as Biological Mechanisms Linking Psychological Stress to Cancer Risk.
abstract: Considerable research effort in the past several decades has focused on the impact of psychological stress, and stress hormones, on cancerprogression. Numerous studies have reported that stress hormone treatment orin vivostress exposure can enhance the growth of tumor cell linesin vitro, as well as tumors in animal models, and have begun to explore molecular mechanisms. Comparatively little research has focused on the impact of psychological stress and stress hormones on cancerinitiation, in part due to inherent methodological challenges, but also because potential underlying biological mechanisms have remained obscure. In this review, we present a testable theoretical model of pathways by which stress may result in cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. This model supports our overarching hypothesis that psychological stress, acting through increased levels of catecholamines and/or cortisol, can increase DNA damage and/or reduce repair mechanisms, resulting in increased risk of DNA mutations leading to carcinogenesis. A better understanding of molecular pathways by which psychological stress can increase the risk of cancer initiation would open new avenues of translational research, bringing together psychologists, neuroscientists, and molecular biologists, potentially resulting in the development of novel approaches for cancer risk reduction at the population level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh and Biobehavioral Medicine in Oncology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Biology and Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh and Molecular and Cellular Cancer Biology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
authors.forename: Bennett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Houten
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh and Biobehavioral Medicine in Oncology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
authors.forename: Dana H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bovbjerg