Immuno-neural mechanisms in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis: bridging inflammation, neural regulation, and therapeutic innovation - PubMed
3 days ago
- #cancer neuroscience
- #gastrointestinal tumors
- #chronic inflammation
- Gastrointestinal (GI) tumors are a leading cause of global cancer mortality, with late-stage diagnosis and metastasis as major challenges.
- Chronic inflammation, driven by pathogens like H. pylori or inflammatory bowel disease, creates a pro-tumorigenic environment through cytokine networks and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
- Neural components, including serotonergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic pathways, play a role in cancer progression via neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter-mediated crosstalk.
- Colorectal cancer stem cells utilize neuronal signaling, particularly 5-HT/Wnt activation, for self-renewal, and perineural invasion is a critical metastatic route.
- Immune cells like macrophages, T cells, and neutrophils have dual roles, exhibiting both tumor-suppressive and pro-metastatic functions depending on context.
- Recent therapeutic advances include immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapies, and neural-targeted approaches, though challenges like chemoresistance and immune-related adverse events persist.
- Microbiota modulation and nanotechnology show potential for precision therapy in GI oncology.
- Combinatorial strategies targeting immuno-neural axes may help overcome current treatment barriers, emphasizing the need for early detection and personalized approaches.