Gut-Brain coherence: a new therapeutic strategy for stress-related tumor

Chronic psychological stress significantly exacerbates tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis through neuroendocrine dysregulation and tumor-associated immunosuppression. Beyond direct neural pathways, stress is increasingly recognized as a driver of gut microbiota dysbiosis, which triggers systemic or local metabolic reprogramming, and fosters a suppressive tumor immune microenvironment. Understanding the complex interplay between chronic stress and oncogenic process offers critical insights into the underlying mechanisms of cancer biology. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA), as the primary pathway connecting stress to tumorigenesis, represents a pivotal perspective for deciphering this link. Here, we introduce "gut-brain coherence", defined as a dynamic, synchronized homeostasis among the gut microbial ecosystem, neuroendocrine tone, and immune effector function. Based on this concept, we present a dual-direction framework including microbial interventions, behavioral modulation, and targeted pharmacological strategies to re-establish integrated functional equilibrium, offering a unified roadmap to improve survival and quality of life in stress-driven malignancies.