2. Academic Validation
  3. Nerve Density and Neuronal Biomarkers in Cancer

Nerve Density and Neuronal Biomarkers in Cancer

  • Cancers (Basel). 2022 Oct 1;14(19):4817. doi: 10.3390/cancers14194817.
Shahrukh R Ali 1 2,  Madeleine Jordan 1,  Priyadharsini Nagarajan 3,  Moran Amit 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
  • 2 Head and Neck Surgery Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
  • 3 Pathology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
PMID: 36230740 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194817
Abstract

Certain histologic characteristics of neurons, novel neuronal biomarkers, and nerve density are emerging as important diagnostic and prognostic tools in several cancers. The tumor microenvironment has long been known to promote tumor development via promoting angiogenesis and cellular proliferation, but new evidence has shown that neural proliferation and invasion in the tumor microenvironment may also enable tumor growth. Specific neuronal components in peripheral nerves and their localization in certain tumor sites have been identified and associated with tumor aggressiveness. In addition, dense neural innervation has been shown to promote tumorigenesis. In this review, we will summarize the histological components of a nerve, explore the neuronal biomarkers found in tumor sites, and discuss clinical correlates between tumor neurobiology and patient prognosis.

Keywords

cancer; neoplasms; nerve density; nerve pathology; nerve tissue; nerves; neural factors; tumor microenvironment.

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