About this Research Topic
Aberrant innervation pattern and altered neuronal signaling are an emerging hallmark of cancer. As such, recent discoveries illustrate that the crosstalk between tumor and neurons occurs both in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Such crosstalk is an important and, in some cases, vital component of tumor initiation and progression, both in gliomas and in tumors of peripheral organs.
However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between the tumor and the nervous system are insufficiently understood. On the one hand, cancer cells express neurotrophic markers, and release axon guidance molecules. On the other hand, neuronal activity promotes cleavage and secretion of molecules with tumor-promoting propensity.
In the brain, gliomas and metastatic cells integrate into neuronal networks by direct intercellular communication. Neuronal activity may modulate tumor microenvironment, recruit blood vessels to the tumor, control their function, alter the expression of immune checkpoint molecules, and provide cues for proliferation. In somatic tumors, metastasis to the brain underlies cancer mortality.
Presently however, the nervous system is overlooked as a target in developing anti-tumor therapies. Therefore, gaining an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the nervous system-tumor crosstalk, will ultimately help to develop anti-tumor therapies based on the modulation and control of neuronal activity.
Within this research topic, we invite papers that address, among others, the following cancer neuroscience questions:
• In vivo and in vitro models of the molecular interaction between cancer and the nervous system.
• Molecular mechanistic studies on the effect of neuronal activity on tumor growth.
• Molecular mechanistic studies on the effects of tumor growth on the function of the nervous system.
• Anti-cancer strategies based on the modulation of the molecular interaction between neurons and tumors.
• Molecular underpinnings of behavioral effects of tumors.
However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between the tumor and the nervous system are insufficiently understood. On the one hand, cancer cells express neurotrophic markers, and release axon guidance molecules. On the other hand, neuronal activity promotes cleavage and secretion of molecules with tumor-promoting propensity.
In the brain, gliomas and metastatic cells integrate into neuronal networks by direct intercellular communication. Neuronal activity may modulate tumor microenvironment, recruit blood vessels to the tumor, control their function, alter the expression of immune checkpoint molecules, and provide cues for proliferation. In somatic tumors, metastasis to the brain underlies cancer mortality.
Presently however, the nervous system is overlooked as a target in developing anti-tumor therapies. Therefore, gaining an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the nervous system-tumor crosstalk, will ultimately help to develop anti-tumor therapies based on the modulation and control of neuronal activity.
Within this research topic, we invite papers that address, among others, the following cancer neuroscience questions:
• In vivo and in vitro models of the molecular interaction between cancer and the nervous system.
• Molecular mechanistic studies on the effect of neuronal activity on tumor growth.
• Molecular mechanistic studies on the effects of tumor growth on the function of the nervous system.
• Anti-cancer strategies based on the modulation of the molecular interaction between neurons and tumors.
• Molecular underpinnings of behavioral effects of tumors.
Keywords: cancer neuroscience, neuronal signaling, tumor microenvironment, anti-tumor therapies, tumor growth, molecular interaction
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
