Stress and its molecular consequences in cancer progression

Abstract

Stress, caused by psychological, physiological and physical factors has an adverse impact on human body homeostasis. There are two kind of stress: short-term and chronic. Cancer patients usually live under chronic stress, caused by diagnosis-related strong emotional experience and depression, resulting from various difficulties associated with disease progression and treatment. At the molecular level, stress factors induce production and secretion of stress-related hormones, such as catecholamines, glucocorticoids and dopamine (as a part of adaptational body response), which influence both normal and transformed cells through their specific receptors. The particular effects exerted by these molecules on cancer cells have been also observed in in vitro cultures and include changes in proliferation, apoptosis susceptibility and migration/invasion potential. As a result, it has been suggested that stress hormones may be responsible for progression of malignancy and thus accelerate the metastasis formation in cancer patients. However, the clinical data on correlation between stress and the patients survival, as well as the molecular analysis of stress hormone receptors expression and action in cancer cell, have not yet provided an unequivocal answer. For this reason, extensive studies, on molecular and clinical level are needed to fully determine stress impact on cancerprogression and on the effectiveness of anti-cancer treatment. Nowadays, it seems reasonable that the personalization of anti-cancer therapy should also focus on mental state of cancer patients, and provide them with psychological tools or techniques for stress management.

Oestrogen receptor alpha PvuII polymorphism and uterine fibroid incidence in Caucasian women

“…Raised levels of oestrogens and progesterone are believed to belong to the most important factors inducing the formation and growth of UFs [9, 12]. However, UF growth was never observed under external administration of steroids only, indicating that pathophysiological pathways of UF and other tumour formation is complex and unknown in many areas [13].…”

Risk of Developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma following Depressive Disorder Based on the Expression Level of Oatp2a1 and Oatp2b1

“…Immune dysregulation may be a central feature common to DD which induced decreased natural killer cell cytotoxicity and elevated IL-6, TNFalpha, and CRP [40]. At the molecular level, the DD induce the production and secretion of dopamine, catecholamines, and glucocorticoids, which influence the body internal environment and promote proliferation, apoptosis susceptibility, and migration/invasion potential of cancer cells [26]. Recent studies demonstrate that some Oatps are up- or downregulated in several cancers and that Oatp expression might affect cancer development, Oatps could be valuable targets for anticancer therapy [41].…”

“…Recently, the disordered tissue microenvironment and imbalanced internal environment which is further enhanced by the causes of metabolic have been proposed as the pathogenic factors of HCC [25]. DD, caused by the stress from physiological, psychological, and physical factors, has an adverse impact on human body homeostasis [26]. To our knowledge, DD has an adverse impact on human body homeostasis and has a relationship with HCC, Oatp 2a1, and Oatp 2b1 as the important members of transporter proteins in the internal environment are closely related with the occurrence of digestive system tumors; internal environment disorder is the important factor for HCC.…”

Influence of marital status on small intestinal adenocarcinoma survival: an analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database

“…Unmarried patients, lacking spousal care and support, usually live with chronic psychological distress and unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, resulting in disease progression and undertreatment. 21 – 23 Unmarried patients also tend to have latter stages of disease. 13 Hershman et al 24 reported that unmarried patients were more likely to delay the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery, leading to higher mortality.…”