Tumor innervation and mitochondrial transfer in the cancer pathogenesis: perspectives on genitourinary malignancies

Recent advances have significantly expanded our understanding of the roles played by mitochondria and tumor innervation in tumorigenesis. Once viewed primarily as contributors to energy production and metastatic dissemination, mitochondria are now recognized as central players in broader processes, including immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment, therapy resistance, and metastatic progression. Interestingly, the findings have eventually converged, and evidence now shows that mitochondria can be transferred from neurons to tumor cells, resulting in enhanced invasiveness. While these discoveries are promising, they also present new challenges that must be addressed. As the interconnection between neuroscience, oncology, and immunology continues to deepen, these insights open new avenues for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. This review explores the most recent findings regarding nerve-cancer interaction, with a specific focus on genitourinary cancers, highlights their emerging intersections, and discusses how these insights may inform the development of novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.