NSW State Cancer Conference 2023

Cancer Neuroscience: a New Frontier in Oncology (#32)

Hubert Hondermarck 1
  1. University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Nsw, Australia

The nervous system has recently emerged as a key regulator of tumorigenesis and anti-neurogenic therapies are entering clinical trials in oncology. The infiltration of autonomic nerves of sympathetic and parasympathetic origin in the pre-tumoral microenvironment leads to the activation of adrenergic and cholinergic neuro-signalling that fuels cancer stem cell growth, neo-angiogenesis and metastasis. Interestingly, as all peripheral nerves are ultimately connected to the central nervous system, the question of a higher level of control of cancer development by the central nervous system, and in particular the brain, is increasingly raised. In this presentation, the evidence to date and the clinical ramifications of cancer neuroscience for tumour diagnosis, prognosis and treatment will be developed.