Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategies

Abstract Head and neck cancer (HNC) is an aggressive malignancy with significant effects on the innervation. Not only is it at the top of the cancer spectrum with a dismal prognosis, but it also imposes considerable stress on patients and society owing to frequent neurological symptoms. With progres...

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Main Authors: Hanrui Wang, Xiaoyu Song, Hui Shen, Wanchen Liu, Yao Wang, Mingjun Zhang, Ting Yang, Yakui Mou, Chao Ren, Xicheng Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Molecular Cancer
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02299-6
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author Hanrui Wang
Xiaoyu Song
Hui Shen
Wanchen Liu
Yao Wang
Mingjun Zhang
Ting Yang
Yakui Mou
Chao Ren
Xicheng Song
author_facet Hanrui Wang
Xiaoyu Song
Hui Shen
Wanchen Liu
Yao Wang
Mingjun Zhang
Ting Yang
Yakui Mou
Chao Ren
Xicheng Song
author_sort Hanrui Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Head and neck cancer (HNC) is an aggressive malignancy with significant effects on the innervation. Not only is it at the top of the cancer spectrum with a dismal prognosis, but it also imposes considerable stress on patients and society owing to frequent neurological symptoms. With progress in cancer neuroscience, the interactions between HNC and the nervous system, as well as the underlying mechanisms, have become increasingly clear. Compelling evidence suggests communication of information between cancer and nerve cells and devastation of the neurological system with tumor growth. However, the thorough grasp of HNC in cancer neuroscience has been severely constrained by the intricacy of HNC and fragmented research. This review comprehensively organizes and summarizes the latest research on the crosstalk between HNC and the nervous system. It aims to clarify various aspects of the neurological system in HNC, including the physiology, progression, and treatment of cancer. Furthermore, the opportunities and challenges of cancer neuroscience in HNC are discussed, which offers fresh perspectives on the neurological aspects of HNC diagnosis and management.
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issn 1476-4598
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Molecular Cancer
spelling doaj-art-e60f5321f566463cb510e114b80007a92025-08-20T03:08:05ZengBMCMolecular Cancer1476-45982025-03-0124113110.1186/s12943-025-02299-6Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategiesHanrui Wang0Xiaoyu Song1Hui Shen2Wanchen Liu3Yao Wang4Mingjun Zhang5Ting Yang6Yakui Mou7Chao Ren8Xicheng Song9Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao UniversityAbstract Head and neck cancer (HNC) is an aggressive malignancy with significant effects on the innervation. Not only is it at the top of the cancer spectrum with a dismal prognosis, but it also imposes considerable stress on patients and society owing to frequent neurological symptoms. With progress in cancer neuroscience, the interactions between HNC and the nervous system, as well as the underlying mechanisms, have become increasingly clear. Compelling evidence suggests communication of information between cancer and nerve cells and devastation of the neurological system with tumor growth. However, the thorough grasp of HNC in cancer neuroscience has been severely constrained by the intricacy of HNC and fragmented research. This review comprehensively organizes and summarizes the latest research on the crosstalk between HNC and the nervous system. It aims to clarify various aspects of the neurological system in HNC, including the physiology, progression, and treatment of cancer. Furthermore, the opportunities and challenges of cancer neuroscience in HNC are discussed, which offers fresh perspectives on the neurological aspects of HNC diagnosis and management.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02299-6Head and neck cancerNervous systemNeuro-Cancer crosstalkCancer treatmentNeuro-targeted therapy
spellingShingle Hanrui Wang
Xiaoyu Song
Hui Shen
Wanchen Liu
Yao Wang
Mingjun Zhang
Ting Yang
Yakui Mou
Chao Ren
Xicheng Song
Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategies
Molecular Cancer
Head and neck cancer
Nervous system
Neuro-Cancer crosstalk
Cancer treatment
Neuro-targeted therapy
title Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategies
title_full Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategies
title_fullStr Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategies
title_full_unstemmed Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategies
title_short Cancer neuroscience in head and neck: interactions, modulation, and therapeutic strategies
title_sort cancer neuroscience in head and neck interactions modulation and therapeutic strategies
topic Head and neck cancer
Nervous system
Neuro-Cancer crosstalk
Cancer treatment
Neuro-targeted therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02299-6
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