Cancer Neuroscience: Neural Mechanisms as Therapeutic Targets in Cancer

Nerves and neural activity are involved in all aspects of cancer progression, from initiation to metastasis.  However, neural-cancer interactions are highly understudied aspects of the tumor microenvironment, in cancers both in the brain and the body. Most of our peripheral organs and tissues are innervated by nerves that connect them with the central nervous system, and increasing evidence demonstrates critical neuronal control of diverse aspects of cancer biology. Conversely, there is growing evidence that cancers and cancer treatment modulate neural activity, and that the degree of this modulation influences treatment outcomes.

This Keystone Symposium on Cancer Neuroscience will address key questions in the field including:

• Delineation of full neural circuits from cancers in the body and the brain.
• Integration between the CNS and primary and metastatic brain cancers
• Critical signals between neurons and cancers
• Modulation of neural-cancer interactions by cancer treatments
• Therapeutic opportunities using neuromodulation of cancer

The Cancer Neuroscience Keystone Symposium provides the missing link between studies focused on the neural-cancer interactions in the brain and studies focused on the body. The event will serve as a nucleation center in this fast growing field, bringing together cancer researchers, neuroscientists, immunologists, clinicians, physicists and bioengineers to integrate their understanding of this highly understudied component of the tumor microenvironment. The symposium will also serve as a platform to inspire and nurture a diverse cohort of young investigators who will shape the future of cancer neuroscience.