Emergence of neural regulatory mechanisms in carcinogenesis

Abstract

Emerging data indicate that the nervous system plays an important role in carcinogenesis. However, more studies are required to help further elucidate the mechanisms involved in the neural regulation of carcinogenesis. Some recent findings describing the neural regulatory mechanisms of action in prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma are discussed, with a focus on the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory neuronal elements of the nervous system. Norepinephrine, which is released by the sympathetic nervous system and binds to the beta-adrenergic receptor, regulates cellular responses in both normal and tumor cells. It has also been shown that the destruction of sensory neurons can prevent or at least slow pancreatic cancer. Cortisol, the main stress hormone, is also discussed and how it could potentially be involved in hepatocellular carcinoma development. The importance of studying other signaling molecules in the nervous system, such as oxytocin and its receptor, the oxytocin receptor, and how they might be involved in carcinogenesis when aberrantly expressed is highlighted. This is an area of study which clearly needs further investigation. A clearer understanding of the detailed mechanisms of how the nervous system is involved in carcinogenesis could potentially aid in the identification of novel biomarkers and development of novel preventative and therapeutic strategies in various cancers.

Core tip: Increasing evidence points to the importance of neural regulatory mechanisms in carcinogenesis. However, these mechanisms are not fully understood. A better understanding of these mechanisms could lead to prevention, early detection, and novel therapeutic strategies in various cancers. Consequently, this area of study warrants further investigation.

INTRODUCTION

The nervous system plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis in peripheral organs by facilitating cross-talk between these organs and the brain. Emerging data from several pre-clinical and clinical studies have suggested that this neural regulation is involved in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance in many peripheral organs when it gets altered[1]. Additionally, psychosocial studies indicate that there are alterations observed in brain activities of neuromediators and neuroendocrine hormones in patients with solid tumors[1-3].

The sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system directly innervate most distal organs and facilitate tissue homeostasis in them by releasing neurotransmitters such as catecholamines and acetylcholine (Ach). Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system have been shown to regulate tumor cell growth, migration, and invasiveness. When the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which mediates the flight-or-flight stress responses gets activated, it releases the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine (NE) via its nerve fibers[4,5]. NE and cortisol (the major stress hormone) bind to the beta-adrenergic receptor or the intracellular glucocorticoid receptor, respectively, to trigger cellular responses[6]. Cortisol release has been linked to the development and progression of various cancers[7-11]. Ach can bind to nicotinic and muscarinic receptors which are expressed on tumor and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment[1,12].

While more is known about the emerging role of the nervous system in cancer progression, fewer studies have been done on elucidating its role in cancer initiation.

CURRENT FINDINGS

There is an emerging understanding of the neural regulatory mechanisms in carcinogenesis (Figure 1). Previously, some studies have proposed that solid tumors lacked innervation. However, newer studies have demonstrated the process of neoneurogenesis in which nerves infiltrate solid tumors. Specifically, some studies have shown that nerves play a role in the etiology of prostate, breast, and pancreatic solid tumors[13-15].

Figure 1.

Neural regulatory mechanisms in carcinogenesis.

Magnon et al[13] conducted a study using mouse models and showed that prostate cancer development was regulated by the formation of autonomic nerve fibers in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer development was inhibited by genetic deletion of neurotransmitter activity, stromal b2- and b3-adrenergic receptors. Additionally, in a retrospective blinded study conducted by this group using 43 prostate adenocarcinoma specimens, it was found that the denser the amount of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers in the tumor microenvironment, the poorer the patient outcomes[13]. The SNS nerve fibers provide NE which acts on b2- and b3-adrenergic receptors (Adrb2, Adrb3) expressed on stromal cells and plays a role in the development and progression of prostate tumors. Additionally, nerve fibers from the parasympathetic nervous system provide tumors with Ach, which promotes prostate tumor growth and metastasis[13].

Previous studies have shown that gastric tumorigenesis is enhanced by activity of the SNS[16-18]. Like the prostate, the pancreas is heavily innervated by the autonomic nervous system. Saloman et al[19] have suggested that pancreatic cancer could be prevented or slowed via the destruction of some sensory neurons. Sensory neurons densely populate pancreatic tumors and the stimulation of these neurons have been shown to advance inflammation[19,20]. Such inflammation is believed to initiate tumors by creating a conducive environment[19,20].

Wu et al[11] suggested that cortisol plays a role in hepatobiliary carcinoma (HCC) development. In HCC patients, serum levels of cortisol have been shown to be higher than in healthy individuals. Additionally, HCC cell cultures exposed to cortisol has been shown to repress the expression of p53 by upregulating the expression of Bcl2L12, a suppressor of p53[11].

CONCLUSION

The findings thus far suggest the emergence of a potentially critical role of the nervous system in carcinogenesis. This requires further investigation. It would be interesting to study how other signaling molecules which have traditionally been associated with nervous system function, but recently been implicated in carcinogenesis, play a role in neural regulation in carcinogenesis. For example, many neuropeptides are aberrantly expressed in cancer cells. One recently discovered example is oxytocin. Oxytocin is produced by hypothalamic neurons and has multiple roles in the central nervous system. Apart from its well-known functions in the female reproductive system (milk ejection), oxytocin has more recently been shown to play roles in stress and trust, anxiety, social interaction and bonding, and parental care, as well as on neuropsychiatric disorders linked to such social behaviors[21,22]. Even further, emerging findings are linking the aberrant expression of oxytocin and its receptor, the oxytocin receptor to various cancers[23-27]. A better understanding of the detailed mechanisms of the role nerves and neural mediators play in carcinogenesis, could lead to the identification of novel biomarkers and development of novel preventative, early detection, or therapeutic strategies for various cancers.