Potential mechanisms of neurogenic tumor maturation

Abstract

In the past years, a significant progress has been achieved in the development of techniques to study morphology and molecular processes within tissues, single cells, and even subcellular structures. This has led to qualitatively new insights into the causes of certain previously unexplained clinical phenomena in oncology, including the rare and paradoxical ability of malignant tumors to become benign. In this review, we critically analyze the existing hypotheses regarding the mechanisms underlying neurogenic tumor maturation, taking into consideration recent data on their origins and biological properties. We also evaluate the potential implications of this knowledge for clinical practice.