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Neurological regulation of tumors: An interdisciplinary frontier from circuit mechanisms to targeted intervention
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Yi ZHANG, Siyi XIONG
Journal of Army Medical University | 2026, 48(6) : 663 - 669
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Journal of Army Medical University | 2026, 48(6): 663-669
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Neurological regulation of tumors: An interdisciplinary frontier from circuit mechanisms to targeted intervention
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Yi ZHANG, Siyi XIONG
Affiliations
  • 1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Key Laboratory of Chongqing Health Commission for Minimally Invasive and Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer, First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
Published: 2026-03-30 doi: 10.16016/j.2097-0927.202601070
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Traditional oncology research has long focused on genetic, immunological, and vascular mechanisms. In recent years, with the deepening interdisciplinary convergence, “cancer neuroscience” has rapidly emerged as a cutting-edge field for deciphering the mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression. In this article, we systematically review the research trajectory of neural-tumor interactions: from the early observations of neural infiltration within tumors to recent breakthroughs revealing that the nervous system actively regulates tumor processes through multiple mechanisms. In intracranial tumors, glioma cells can form functional synapses with neurons, "hijacking" neural signals such as glutamate to drive their own proliferation. In peripheral solid tumors, specific brain circuits (e.g., the amygdala-sympathetic nerve pathway) can remotely regulate the progression of cancers such as breast cancer; meanwhile, sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory nerves directly act on tumor cells or reshape the immune microenvironment through releasing neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, such as norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), thereby influencing tumor evolution. These findings collectively constitute a "neuro-immune-tumor" regulatory axis, providing a novel perspective for understanding tumor biology. Building upon our group's previous work, we propose that the nervous system represents an indispensable and active component of the tumor microenvironment, extensively participating in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and immune regulation through multi-level mechanisms involving electrical signals, chemical neurotransmitters, and neural circuits. Targeting neural-tumor interactions (e.g., using β-blockers or modulating specific neural circuits) has already demonstrated significant translational potential for synergizing with existing therapies. Through integrating key advances in this field, we systematically elaborate the translational pathway from basic discoveries to clinical exploration, analyze current technical and clinical challenges, and prospect a forward-looking perspective on interdisciplinary collaboration and precision intervention, thereby, providing theoretical reference and framework for deepening the understanding of systemic tumor regulation and developing novel neuro-targeted therapeutic strategies.

cancer neuroscience  /  nervous system  /  tumor  /  tumor microenvironment  /  neuroimmunity
张毅, 熊斯怡. 神经系统调控肿瘤:从环路机制到靶向干预的交叉前沿. 陆军军医大学学报, 2026 , 48 (6) : 663 -669 . DOI: 10.16016/j.2097-0927.202601070
Yi ZHANG, Siyi XIONG. Neurological regulation of tumors: An interdisciplinary frontier from circuit mechanisms to targeted intervention[J]. Journal of Army Medical University, 2026 , 48 (6) : 663 -669 . DOI: 10.16016/j.2097-0927.202601070
Year 2026 volume 48 Issue 6
85
33
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Article Info
doi: 10.16016/j.2097-0927.202601070
  • Receive Date:2026-01-10
  • Online Date:2026-10-23
  • Published:2026-03-30
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  • Received:2026-01-10
  • Revised:2026-02-02
Affiliations
    1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Key Laboratory of Chongqing Health Commission for Minimally Invasive and Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer, First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数
科
Family
属数
Number of
genus
种数
Number of
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Percentage of
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属
Genus
种数
Number of
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Percentage of total
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鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae 2 11 5.26 鹅膏菌属 Amanita 10 4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae 2 12 5.74 丝盖伞属 Inocybe 5 2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae 8 14 6.70 蜡蘑属 Laccaria 5 2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae 3 23 11.00 小皮伞属 Marasmius 6 2.87
小菇属 Mycena 11 5.26
光柄菇属 Pluteus 5 2.39
红菇属 Russula 17 8.13
栓菌属 Trametes 5 2.39
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