Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a review
Worldwide, head and neck cancers (HNCs) account for approximately 900,000 cases and 500,000 deaths annually, with their incidence continuing to rise. Carcinogenesis is a complex, multidimensional molecular process leading to cancer development, and in recent years, the role of nerves in the pathogen...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Oncology Reviews |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/or.2024.1514004/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832592340295876608 |
|---|---|
| author | Krzysztof Rutkowski Michał Gola Michał Gola Janusz Godlewski Janusz Godlewski Anna Starzyńska Anna Starzyńska Giulia Marvaso Giulia Marvaso Federico Mastroleo Federico Mastroleo Maria Giulia Vincini Maria Giulia Vincini Alice Porazzi Mattia Zaffaroni Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa |
| author_facet | Krzysztof Rutkowski Michał Gola Michał Gola Janusz Godlewski Janusz Godlewski Anna Starzyńska Anna Starzyńska Giulia Marvaso Giulia Marvaso Federico Mastroleo Federico Mastroleo Maria Giulia Vincini Maria Giulia Vincini Alice Porazzi Mattia Zaffaroni Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa |
| author_sort | Krzysztof Rutkowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Worldwide, head and neck cancers (HNCs) account for approximately 900,000 cases and 500,000 deaths annually, with their incidence continuing to rise. Carcinogenesis is a complex, multidimensional molecular process leading to cancer development, and in recent years, the role of nerves in the pathogenesis of various malignancies has been increasingly recognized. Thanks to the abundant innervation of the head and neck region, peripheral nervous system has gained considerable interest for its possible role in the development and progression of HNCs. Intratumoral parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory nerve fibers are emerging as key players and potential targets for novel anti-cancer and pain-relieving medications in different tumors, including HNCs. This review explores nerve-cancer interactions, including perineural invasion (PNI), cancer-related axonogenesis, neurogenesis, and nerve reprogramming, with an emphasis on their molecular mechanisms, mediators and clinical implications. PNI, an adverse histopathologic feature, has been widely investigated in HNCs. However, its prognostic value remains debated due to inconsistent results when classified dichotomously (present/absent). Emerging evidence suggests that quantitative and qualitative descriptions of PNI may better reflect its clinical usefulness. The review also examines therapies targeting nerve-cancer crosstalk and highlights the influence of HPV status on tumor innervation. By synthesizing current knowledge, challenges, and future perspectives, this review offers insights into the molecular basis of nerve involvement in HNCs and the potential for novel therapeutic approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36702197406d42febb75eec86b477217 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1970-5557 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oncology Reviews |
| spelling | doaj-art-36702197406d42febb75eec86b4772172025-01-21T09:13:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Oncology Reviews1970-55572025-01-011810.3389/or.2024.15140041514004Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a reviewKrzysztof Rutkowski0Michał Gola1Michał Gola2Janusz Godlewski3Janusz Godlewski4Anna Starzyńska5Anna Starzyńska6Giulia Marvaso7Giulia Marvaso8Federico Mastroleo9Federico Mastroleo10Maria Giulia Vincini11Maria Giulia Vincini12Alice Porazzi13Mattia Zaffaroni14Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa15Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa16Department of Hematology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Human Histology and Embryology, Collegium Medicum, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Oncology and Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration with the Warmia-Mazury Oncology Centre, Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Histology and Embryology, Collegium Medicum, School of Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration with the Warmia-Mazury Oncology Centre, Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Oral Surgery, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Otolaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, PolandDivision of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDivision of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDivision of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDivision of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDivision of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDivision of Radiation Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyWorldwide, head and neck cancers (HNCs) account for approximately 900,000 cases and 500,000 deaths annually, with their incidence continuing to rise. Carcinogenesis is a complex, multidimensional molecular process leading to cancer development, and in recent years, the role of nerves in the pathogenesis of various malignancies has been increasingly recognized. Thanks to the abundant innervation of the head and neck region, peripheral nervous system has gained considerable interest for its possible role in the development and progression of HNCs. Intratumoral parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory nerve fibers are emerging as key players and potential targets for novel anti-cancer and pain-relieving medications in different tumors, including HNCs. This review explores nerve-cancer interactions, including perineural invasion (PNI), cancer-related axonogenesis, neurogenesis, and nerve reprogramming, with an emphasis on their molecular mechanisms, mediators and clinical implications. PNI, an adverse histopathologic feature, has been widely investigated in HNCs. However, its prognostic value remains debated due to inconsistent results when classified dichotomously (present/absent). Emerging evidence suggests that quantitative and qualitative descriptions of PNI may better reflect its clinical usefulness. The review also examines therapies targeting nerve-cancer crosstalk and highlights the influence of HPV status on tumor innervation. By synthesizing current knowledge, challenges, and future perspectives, this review offers insights into the molecular basis of nerve involvement in HNCs and the potential for novel therapeutic approaches.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/or.2024.1514004/fullhead and neck cancersquamous cell carcinomaperineural invasiontumor microenvironmentaxonogenesis |
| spellingShingle | Krzysztof Rutkowski Michał Gola Michał Gola Janusz Godlewski Janusz Godlewski Anna Starzyńska Anna Starzyńska Giulia Marvaso Giulia Marvaso Federico Mastroleo Federico Mastroleo Maria Giulia Vincini Maria Giulia Vincini Alice Porazzi Mattia Zaffaroni Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja Jereczek-Fossa Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a review Oncology Reviews head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma perineural invasion tumor microenvironment axonogenesis |
| title | Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a review |
| title_full | Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a review |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a review |
| title_short | Understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers - a review |
| title_sort | understanding the role of nerves in head and neck cancers a review |
| topic | head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma perineural invasion tumor microenvironment axonogenesis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/or.2024.1514004/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT krzysztofrutkowski understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT michałgola understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT michałgola understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT januszgodlewski understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT januszgodlewski understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT annastarzynska understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT annastarzynska understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT giuliamarvaso understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT giuliamarvaso understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT federicomastroleo understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT federicomastroleo understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT mariagiuliavincini understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT mariagiuliavincini understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT aliceporazzi understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT mattiazaffaroni understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT barbaraalicjajereczekfossa understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview AT barbaraalicjajereczekfossa understandingtheroleofnervesinheadandneckcancersareview |