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1College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. cao.76@osu.edu
Annual Review of Neuroscience
|April 3, 2012
Summary
Challenging environments, not just stress, impact cancer growth. Enriched environments activate a brain-adipocyte axis, suppressing leptin and reducing tumor proliferation via hypothalamic BDNF.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Oncology
- Psychoneuroimmunology
Background:
- Cancer research primarily focuses on molecular and cellular mechanisms.
- The influence of social interactions and psychological state on cancer is under-investigated.
- Emerging evidence links brain function to cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how complex, enriched environments affect peripheral cancer growth.
- To investigate the neuroendocrine pathways involved in environment-induced cancer modulation.
- To integrate findings with existing literature on stress, environment, and cancer.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of studies on enriched environments and their impact on cancer.
- Investigation of the neuroendocrine brain-adipocyte axis activation.
- Examination of sympathetic innervation of adipose tissue, leptin suppression, and hypothalamic BDNF expression.
Main Results:
- Enriched environments, distinct from stress, robustly affect peripheral cancer.
- Activation of the brain-adipocyte axis leads to reduced cancer proliferation.
- Hypothalamic BDNF expression is induced, contributing to cancer reduction.
Conclusions:
- Social and environmental factors play a significant role in cancer progression.
- The neuroendocrine system provides a critical link between environment and cancer.
- Further research into these pathways can inform novel cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
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