This paper highlights the critical and often overlooked relationship between the nervous system and cancer progression, both within and outside the brain. It explains how neurons actively contribute to cancer initiation, growth, spread, and resistance to therapy through various mechanisms, including synaptic connections and paracrine signaling. The authors argue that cancer research needs to integrate a neuroscience perspective to fully understand these complex interactions and develop more effective treatments. This interdisciplinary approach could lead to novel therapies by targeting the neural mechanisms that support tumor development, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

References:

• Monje, M., Winkler, F. Cancer research needs neuroscience and neuroscientists. Nat Neurosci 28, 915–917 (2025). doi.org