Abstract:
Angiogenesis, the generation of new blood vessels, is one of the hallmarks of cancer. The
growing tumor requires nutrients and oxygen. Recent evidence has shown that tumors release
signals to attract new nerve fibers and stimulate the growth of new nerve fibers. Neurogenesis,
neural extension, and axonogenesis assist in the migration of cancer cells. Cancer cells can use both
blood vessels and nerve fibers as routes for cells to move along. In this way, neurogenesis and
angiogenesis both contribute to cancer metastasis. As a result, tumor-induced neurogenesis joins
angiogenesis and immunosuppression as aberrant processes that are exacerbated within the tumor
microenvironment. The relationship between these processes contributes to cancer development and
progression. The interplay between these systems is brought about by cytokines, neurotransmitters,
and neuromodulators, which activate signaling pathways that are common to angiogenesis and
the nervous tissue. These include the AKT signaling pathways, the MAPK pathway, and the Ras
signaling pathway. These processes also both require the remodeling of tissues. The interplay of
these processes in cancer provides the opportunity to develop novel therapies that can be used to
target these processes.
