Neuro-Tumor Relationships and Their Clinical and Physiological Significance

The key stages of carcinogenesis, initiation, promotion, and progression, are influenced by external and endogenous tumor growth factors. Even small tumors 1–2 mm3 in diameter secret angiogenic factors because malignant tumor needs vascularization and trophic compounds. However, not only angiogenesis but also tumor innervation plays a role in tumor growth. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available data on neuro-tumor relationships and their physiological significance. A search was performed for sources in the PubMed, Web of Science, CyberLeninka, NIH, and ClinicalTrials databases among the works from 2015 to 2025. There are many relevant studies indicating a close relationship between innervation and tumor growth. It is known that the degree of malignancy of a tumor increases with an increase in the number of nerve fibers innervating it. It can be unequivocally stated that the sympathetic innervation of the tumor enhances its growth and invasiveness. The role of parasympathetic and sensory innervation in oncogenesis is ambiguous, and various studies indicate both pro-oncogenic and anti-oncogenic effects depending on the type of tumor and other factors. Various studies have also revealed many neurogenic factors affecting neoplasms and altering their growth. The data presented in this paper highlights the mechanisms of neuro-tumor interaction and determines directions to nerve-oriented diagnostic and treatment methods.