Nerve growth factor: what can surgeons and oncologists learn from a neurological and psychological biomarker?

As the first discovered member of the neurotrophin family, nerve growth factor (NGF) plays fundamental roles in peripheral sensory and sympathetic neuronal development and survival. Recent evidence reveals its tumour-promoting effects through increasing perineural invasion, which is correlated with poor clinical outcomes. The exact molecular mechanisms exhibit malignancy-specific differences and remain incompletely characterized.

This review compares mechanistic insights and therapeutic advancements regarding NGF signalling in neurological/psychological disorders with discoveries in oncological contexts. Functioning as a dual biomarker for neural integrity and pathological progression, NGF primarily exerts its effects via an interaction with the high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptor. Both molecules are frequently overexpressed in malignant tissues. NGF orchestrates tissue regeneration and tumourigenesis through the activation of conserved neurotrophin pathways and downstream proliferative cascades, some of which participate in regulating the expression and secretion of NGF in turn. In practical applications, in addition to acting as an antiproliferative target, NGF could be utilized in psychological management, antinociceptive treatment, and wound healing.

Systemic NGF-targeted therapies have significant articular and neurological toxicity, indicating the critical need for localized intervention strategies depending on the expression level of NGF and TrkA to balance antitumour efficacy with protective requirements for nerve structures and innervation.