A new study sheds light on how psychological stress may influence the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), offering important implications for cancer biology and treatment approaches. In a mouse model, researchers found that psychological stress accelerates PDAC progression by stimulating nerve innervation within tumors.
Pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer, has long been associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. While several biological factors influencing its progression have been studied, the impact of psychological stress remained unclear until now.
The researchers discovered that stress activates nociception-related pathways, which, in turn, promote tumor innervation—a process whereby new nerves infiltrate the tumor microenvironment. This neural growth appears to enhance tumor development and may foster a more aggressive cancer phenotype.
By exposing mice with PDAC to sustained psychological stress, the study demonstrated a significant increase in tumor growth compared to non-stressed counterparts. Further analysis showed elevated expression of molecular markers related to nerve growth and stress response pathways in tumors from stressed mice.
This research suggests a biological mechanism linking the nervous system and cancer progression, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care strategies that address both physical and psychological aspects of cancer treatment.
The findings could lead to novel therapeutic targets that disrupt stress-related nerve signaling in tumors, potentially slowing cancer progression. Future studies in human subjects will be essential to validate these results and translate them into clinical interventions.
Source: https:// – Courtesy of the original publisher.
