Neurobiology of Cancer: Introduction of New Drugs in the Treatment and Prevention of Cancer

Abstract

Research on the neurobiology of cancer, which lies at the border of neuroscience and oncology, has elucidated the mechanisms and pathways that enable the nervous system to modulate processes associated with cancer initiation and progression. This research has also shown that several drugs which modulate interactions between the nervous system and the tumor micro- and macroenvironments significantly reduced the progression of cancer in animal models. Encouraging results were also provided by prospective clinical trials investigating the effect of drugs that reduce adrenergic signaling on the course of cancer in oncological patients. Moreover, it has been shown that reducing adrenergic signaling might also reduce the incidence of cancer in animal models, as well as in humans. However, even if many experimental and clinical findings have confirmed the preventive and therapeutic potential of drugs that reduce the stimulatory effect of the nervous system on processes related to cancer initiation and progression, several questions remain unanswered. Therefore, the aim of this review is to critically evaluate the efficiency of these drugs and to discuss questions that need to be answered before their introduction into conventional cancer treatment and prevention.

The Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Carvedilol Elicits Anti-Tumor Responses in Uveal Melanoma 3D Tumor Spheroids and May Serve as Co-Adjuvant Therapy with Radiation

“…In that same study, the prospective approach described the reduction in the breast cancer proliferation index by comparing pre-and post-propranolol intake. [47] Along with these direct anti-tumor effects of ß-blockers, adrenergic stress reduction and hypertension themselves have been shown to increase the risk of cancer and metastasis [48,49]. However, it is currently unknown whether stress or hypertension increase the risk of metastatic UM.…”

Stress in Metastatic Breast Cancer: To the Bone and Beyond

“…The use of αand β-blockers in BRCA animal models suggests a role for pharmacologic inhibition of ADRs signalling in helping to control the metastatic progression [73,118,139]. Moreover, since cancer diagnosis, surgery and associated treatment is a highly stressful experience, potentially worsening the progression of the disease, the general use of ADR-blockers systemically (specifically β-blockers) as an adjuvant therapy has the ability to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment [26,151]. In addition, the use of alternative non-pharmacological approaches has also been suggested to reduce the sympathetic activity via the modulation of local neuronal activity and improve BRCA patients' survival outcomes [151].…”

“…Although a few studies demonstrate an association between stress-induced sympathetic hyperactivation and the incidence of cancer and dissemination [14], there seems to be a stronger and more consistent relationship between psychological factors and the progression of already-existing tumours [20][21][22][23][24][25]. Nevertheless, greater emphasis has been granted to the use of drugs targeting stress-induced signalling pathways in cancer initiation and progression [26], and more importantly in metastatic BRCA [27].…”

Neural Component of the Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

“…In PDAC, cholinergic nerves can inhibit the growth of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and have a suppressing influence on liver metastases [ 26 ]. Using drugs that block sympathetic and parasympathetic transmission could serve in favor of inhibiting tumor progression [ 27 , 28 ].…”