The Tumor Neuroenvironment

Dear Colleagues,

Tumor development and progression largely depend on the malignant cell interaction with the microenvironmental components. The role of cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, tumor-infiltrating immune cells and other stromal elements in controlling tumor growth and spreading is intensively investigated. Nerve endings are also often identified within solid tumors, but their impact on tumor growth and progression is not entirely understood. Emerging data suggests that the CNS may affect cancer development via the HPA axis. The role of the PNS in tumorigenesis is less clear, although the involvement of the efferent innervation in controlling tumor growth and spreading has been reported. However, the contribution of the afferent neurons in tumor growth is less clear, while the engagement of the PNS neuroglial cells in the regulation of tumor growth and in cancer-associated neurodegenerative processes has been only hypothesized. Understanding the crosstalk between the neuronal and ‘classical’ players involved in pathophysiological regulations in the tumor milieu and development of the general concept of the tumor neuroenvironment is highly justified and necessary for designing innovative cancer therapeutic and preventing approaches. Focused topics of this Special Issue are: Role of efferent and sensory tumor innervation, including neuroglia and neuropeptides, in cancer progression,  perineural invasion, paraneoplastic syndrome, psychoneuroimmunology and neurodegeneration in cancer, as well as therapeutic and psychosocial aspects of tumor innervation.

Prof. Dr. Michael Shurin
Prof. Dr. Nuray Erin
Guest Editors

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