1. The role of enteric neurons in the development and progression of colorectal cancer
- Author
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Nathalie Vaes, Alexander Koch, Veerle Melotte, Glenn Rademakers, Simone L. Schonkeren, and Keith A. Sharkey
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Nervous system ,Cancer Research ,Colorectal cancer ,UNRESECTABLE PANCREATIC-CANCER ,Perineural invasion ,Muscle Proteins ,Intestinal inflammation ,Nerve Tissue Proteins ,Disease ,medicine.disease_cause ,PERINEURAL INVASION ,Enteric Nervous System ,03 medical and health sciences ,VASOACTIVE-INTESTINAL-PEPTIDE ,0302 clinical medicine ,Genetics ,medicine ,Tumor Microenvironment ,Animals ,Humans ,REGULATES GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY ,HUMAN COLON-CANCER ,TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR ,Tumor microenvironment ,Gastrointestinal tract ,Neurotransmitter Agents ,EXPERIMENTAL COLITIS ,business.industry ,CYCLASE-ACTIVATING POLYPEPTIDE ,Neurotransmitters ,medicine.disease ,SUBSTANCE-P ,digestive system diseases ,NERVOUS-SYSTEM ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Oncology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Immunology ,Cancer research ,Disease Progression ,Enteric nervous system ,Carcinogenesis ,business ,Colorectal Neoplasms - Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the intrinsic neural network of the gastrointestinal tract, which is essential for regulating gut functions and intestinal homeostasis. The importance of the ENS is underscored by the existence of severe gastrointestinal diseases, such as Hirschsprung's disease and intestinal pseudo-obstruction, which arise when the ENS fails to develop normally or becomes dysregulated. Moreover, it is known that enteric neurons are involved in intestinal inflammation. However, the role of the ENS in colorectal cancer (CRC) carcinogenesis remains poorly understood, even though processes like perineural invasion and neoneurogenesis are important factors in CRC. Here we summarize how enteric neurons are affected during CRC and discuss the influence of enteric neurons, either direct or indirect, on the development and/or progression of CRC. Finally, we illustrate how the ENS could be targeted as a potential anti-cancer therapy, establishing the ENS as an integral part of the tumor microenvironment.
- Published
- 2017