Cancer Neuroscience: Linking Neuronal Plasticity with Brain Tumor Growth and Resistance

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Oncology
• Cancer Neuroscience

Background:

• Glioblastoma and other brain tumors are highly lethal with limited treatment efficacy.
• Neuronal plasticity and neurotransmitter signaling significantly influence tumor progression and treatment response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of neuronal plasticity in brain tumor progression and therapy resistance.
• To explore therapeutic strategies targeting the neuron-tumor axis.

Main Methods:

• Summarizing fundamental principles of neuronal plasticity in physiological and pathological contexts.
• Highlighting tumor cell exploitation of synaptic input and neurotransmitter signaling.
• Discussing the role of the tumor microenvironment and neuronal feedback loops in therapy resistance.

Main Results:

• Brain tumors hijack neuronal plasticity and glutamatergic signaling for proliferation and invasion.
• Neuronal feedback loops promote chemoresistance, radioresistance, and immune evasion via MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and calcium signaling.
• The tumor microenvironment actively supports the neuron-tumor ecosystem.

Conclusions:

• Cancer neuroscience offers a new paradigm for understanding and treating brain tumors.
• Targeting neuronal plasticity presents novel therapeutic opportunities, including pharmacological and neuromodulation approaches.
• Future research should integrate connectomics, neuroinformatics, and organoid models for personalized therapies.