Cancer neuroscience: signaling pathways and new therapeutic strategies for cancer

From a neuroscience perspective, cancer neuroscience has emerged as a subfield of cancer research. Presumable mechanisms underlying cancer-related neuronal activity (termed neurosciences) include the induction and modulation of signaling pathways that govern cell fate determination and emotional responses (anxiety and stress), such as structural molecules (synaptic structures and current transduction) and secretory substances (neurotransmitters, cytokines, hormones and neuropeptides). In the past 3 years, these neuronal activities, which can either promote cancer growth or be hijacked by cancer cells to support tumor survival and invasion, have been widely demonstrated to be closely related to cancer progression. The molecular mechanisms are also being refined. Despite their great promise, translating neuroscientific discoveries into clinically actionable strategies for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment remains a formidable task. In this comprehensive review, we attempt to provide a full account of the intersection between neuroscience and cancer research. From the perspective of cancer neuroscience, we fully discuss the potential signaling molecules and their regulatory mechanisms, as well as targets and emerging therapeutic strategies that control tumor progression via multiomics approaches. Overall, cancer neuroscience may have unprecedented potential for understanding neuronal functions and cancer development, ultimately offering the significantly improved cancer treatment.