Neural regulations of the tumor microenvironment

• DOI: 10.1096/fba.2021-00066
• Publication Date: 2021-08-29T10:04:10Z
• Authors: Anthony C. Restaino; Paola D. Vermeer
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; QH301-705.5; immune escape; cancer; tumor microenvironment; Reviews; tumor innervation; Biology (General); neuro‐immune communication; 3. Good health

The identification of nerves in the tumor microenvironment has ushered in a new area of research in cancer biology. Numerous studies demonstrate the presence of various types of peripheral nerves (sympathetic, parasympathetic, sensory) within the tumor microenvironment; moreover, an increased density of nerves in the tumor microenvironment correlates with worse prognosis. In this review, we address the current understanding of nerve-mediated alterations of the tumor microenvironment and how they impact disease through a variety of processes, including direct nerve-cancer cell communication, alteration of the infiltrative immune population, and alteration of stromal components.