Introduction: Crosstalk occurs between nerve and cancer cells. These interactions are important for cancer homeostasis and metabolism. Nerve cells influence the tumor microenvironment (TME) and participate in metastasis through neurogenesis, neural extension, and axonogenesis. We summarized the past and current literature on the interaction between nerves and cancer, with a special focus on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), prostate cancer (PCa), and the role of the nerve growth factor (NGF) in cancer. Materials/Methods: We reviewed PubMed and Google Scholar for the relevant literature on the relationship between nerves, neurotrophins, and cancer in general and specifically for both PCa and PDAC. Results: The NGF helped sustain cancer cell proliferation and evade immune defense. It is a neuropeptide involved in neurogenic inflammation through the activation of several cells of the immune system by several proinflammatory cytokines. Both PCa and PDAC employ different strategies to evade immune defense. The prostate is richly innervated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, which helps in both growth control and homeostasis. Newly formed autonomic nerve fibers grow into cancer cells and contribute to cancer initiation and progression through the activation of β-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic signaling. Surgical or chemical sympathectomy prevents the development of prostate cancer. Beta-blockers have a high therapeutic potential for cancer, although current clinical data have been contradictory. With a better understanding of the beta-receptors, one could identify specific receptors that could have an effect on prostate cancer development or act as therapeutic agents. Conclusion: The bidirectional crosstalk between the nervous system and cancer cells has emerged as a crucial regulator of cancer and its microenvironment. Denervation has been shown to be promising in vitro and in animal models. Additionally, there is a potential relationship between cancer and psychosocial biology through neurotransmitters and neurotrophins.
引言：神经细胞与癌细胞之间存在交互作用。这种相互作用对癌症的稳态和代谢至关重要。神经细胞通过神经发生、神经延伸和轴突生成影响肿瘤微环境，并参与转移过程。本文系统回顾了神经与癌症相互作用的历史及最新研究进展，特别聚焦于胰腺导管腺癌、前列腺癌，以及神经生长因子在癌症中的作用机制。材料与方法：通过检索PubMed和Google Scholar数据库，全面收集关于神经、神经营养因子与癌症关系的文献，并针对前列腺癌和胰腺导管腺癌进行专项分析。结果：神经生长因子通过激活免疫系统的多种促炎细胞因子，作为神经肽参与神经源性炎症过程，同时维持癌细胞增殖并帮助其逃避免疫防御。前列腺癌和胰腺导管腺癌采用不同策略实现免疫逃逸。前列腺受交感神经和副交感神经双重支配，这种神经支配参与生长调控和稳态维持。新形成的自主神经纤维可长入癌细胞，通过激活β-肾上腺素能和毒蕈碱胆碱能信号通路，促进癌症的发生发展。外科或化学性交感神经切除术可抑制前列腺癌发展。尽管现有临床数据存在矛盾，β受体阻滞剂在癌症治疗中显示出巨大潜力。通过深入研究β受体亚型，有望发现影响前列腺癌发展的特异性受体或治疗靶点。结论：神经系统与癌细胞之间的双向交互已成为癌症及其微环境的关键调控机制。去神经支配在体外实验和动物模型中展现出治疗前景。此外，通过神经递质和神经营养因子，癌症与心理社会生物学之间可能存在潜在关联。
The Crosstalk between Nerves and Cancer—A Poorly Understood Phenomenon and New Possibilities
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家