Abstract
As the principal afferent pathway for noxious stimuli, nociceptive sensory neurons have been shown to
actively participate in tumor progression. Numerous studies indicate a complex bidirectional crosstalk between
sensory neurons and tumors: tumors promote tumor innervation by releasing neurotrophic factors and axon guidance
molecules, while sensory neurons remodel the tumor microenvironment by releasing neuropeptides, thereby
modulating cancer proliferation, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and metastasis. However, this sensory neuro-tumor
interaction exhibits marked heterogeneity across tumors of different organ origins, and its organ-specific
mechanisms have yet to be systematically elucidated. Accordingly, this review aims to systematically delineate the
organ-specific mechanisms by which nociceptive sensory neurons contribute to the initiation and progression of
multiple solid tumors, evaluate the therapeutic potential of targeting the sensory neuron-tumor signaling axis, and
provide a theoretical basis and research directions for developing organ-specific neuromodulatory strategies.
Key words
nociceptive sensory neurons; cancer neuroscience; tumor microenvironment
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The Nociceptor-tumor Axis: from Neuropeptides to Tumor Innervation[J]. Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction. 2025, 20(11): 651-654
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