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Sympathetic nervous system regulation of the tumour microenvironment

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 15, pages 563–572 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

The peripheral autonomic nervous system (ANS) is known to regulate gene expression in primary tumours and their surrounding microenvironment. Activation of the sympathetic division of the ANS in particular modulates gene expression programmes that promote metastasis of solid tumours by stimulating macrophage infiltration, inflammation, angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and tumour invasion, and by inhibiting cellular immune responses and programmed cell death. Haematological cancers are modulated by sympathetic nervous system (SNS) regulation of stem cell biology and haematopoietic differentiation programmes. In addition to identifying a molecular basis for physiologic stress effects on cancer, these findings have also identified new pharmacological strategies to inhibit cancer progression in vivo.

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Figure 1: Sympathetic nervous system regulation of the tumour microenvironment.
Figure 2: Molecular mechanisms for sympathetic nervous system regulation of tumour progression.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the United States National Institutes of Health (CA083639, CA098258, CA104825, CA109298, CA116778, CA140933, CA151668, CA177909, AG017265, AG033590) and Department of Defense (OC120547, OC093416), the Betty Ann Asche Murray Distinguished Professorship, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT RP140106), and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Molecular Biology Institute, 11–934 Factor Building, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles California 90095–1678, USA,

    Steven W. Cole

  2. and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, 8–684 Factor Building, Box 951781, Los Angeles, California 90095–1781, USA.,

    Steven W. Cole

  3. Department of Gynecologic Oncology; and the Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Comprehensive Cancer Center,

    Archana S. Nagaraja

  4. and the Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Archana S. Nagaraja

  5. Department of Psychology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 200 Hawkins Drive; Department of Urology, E11 Seashore Hall, 3 Roy Carver Pavilion, 200 Hawkins Drive; and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, 200 Hawkins Drive, University of Iowa,

    Susan K. Lutgendorf

  6. Department of Urology, 3 Roy Carver Pavilion, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, 52242–1407, USA

    Susan K. Lutgendorf

  7. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Basic Biobehavioral and Psychological Sciences Branch, Behavioral Research Program, United States National Cancer Institute, Building 9609 Room 3E133, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, 20850, Maryland, USA

    Paige A. Green

  8. Department of Gynecologic Oncology; and the Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Comprehensive Cancer Center,

    Anil K. Sood

  9. and the Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Anil K. Sood

Authors
  1. Steven W. Cole
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  2. Archana S. Nagaraja
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  3. Susan K. Lutgendorf
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  4. Paige A. Green
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  5. Anil K. Sood
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven W. Cole.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Cole, S., Nagaraja, A., Lutgendorf, S. et al. Sympathetic nervous system regulation of the tumour microenvironment. Nat Rev Cancer 15, 563–572 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3978

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