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Serotonin and cancer: what is the link?
D Sarrouilhe, J Clarhaut, N Defamie
1Laboratoire de Physiologie Humaine, Faculte de Medecine et Pharmacie, 6 rue de La Miletrie, bat D1, TSA 51115, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France. Denis.Sarrouilhe@univ-poitiers.fr.
Current Molecular Medicine
|January 21, 2015
Summary
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) influences cancer growth, with effects varying by concentration and receptor interaction. This review explores serotonin
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a key neurotransmitter and local mediator.
- It influences various physiological processes, including cell proliferation.
- Serotonin's role in cancer is complex and multifaceted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the involvement of serotonin in various cancers.
- To analyze serotonin's role at different stages of cancer progression.
- To explore serotonin's impact on tumor growth, migration, and angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on serotonin and cancer.
- Analysis of serotonin's interaction with 5-HT receptors (e.g., 5-HT1, 5-HT2).
- Examination of concentration-dependent effects of serotonin on tumor growth.
Main Results:
- Serotonin can stimulate tumor growth, particularly in aggressive cancers, via 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors.
- Low doses of serotonin may inhibit tumor growth by reducing blood supply.
- Serotonin is implicated in cancer cell migration, metastasis, angiogenesis, and receptor expression dysregulation.
Conclusions:
- Serotonin's role in cancer is concentration-dependent and mediated by specific receptors.
- Serum serotonin levels may serve as a prognostic indicator for certain cancers.
- Targeting serotonin pathways (antagonists, inhibitors) shows potential for cancer treatment.
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