Krebsneurowissenschaft.

The nervous system integrates and processes information to act as master regulator of various vital, biological processes. However, increasing data suggest that the nervous system is also a key player in the initiation of cancer and cancer progression. Following the tenet that oncology follows ontogeny, it has been shown that brain tumors follow neural developmental processes. Incurable gliomas form neurite-like membrane tubes called tumor microtubes and are controlled by neurodevelopmental pathways. Tumor microtubes are used for invasion, proliferation and interconnection with other tumor cells, forming a tumor network that is therapeutically resistant. Additionally, neurons can activate tumor cells via glutamatergic synapses to drive tumor invasion and growth. The most recent knowledge of brain cancer neuroscience presented here with a focus on brain tumours has already led to new approaches for antitumour treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]