For decades, the idea that stress influences cancer has been a topic of widespread discussion, particularly in lay discourse. While medical routines haven't traditionally incorporated stress prevention for cancer survival due to mixed epidemiological and clinical results, recent animal studies have provided robust evidence that stress can significantly promote cancer growth and metastasis. This briefing document synthesizes current knowledge on the relationship between stress and cancer, highlighting the mechanisms, the discrepancies between preclinical and clinical findings, and suggesting future directions for research and intervention.

References:

• Eckerling, A., Ricon-Becker, I., Sorski, L. et al. Stress and cancer: mechanisms, significance and future directions. Nat Rev Cancer 21, 767–785 (2021). doi.org