Psychological stress has been associated with an increased"susceptibility"to various diseases and its impact on tumor development and metastasis is particularly pronounced.This article,guided by principles of traditional Chinese medicine,examines how dysfunction of visceral organs induced by psychological stress leads to disturbances in Qi and blood,subsequently influencing the spread and metastasis of malignant tumors.We also present commonly utilized models for studying psychological stress,discussing their respective advantages and limitations.The objective is to enhance the application of modern biological techniques in investigating stress-induced pathological changes within the body.Drawing from advancements in contemporary medical research,we provide a comprehensive review of the biological mechanisms through which psychological stress influences tumor metastasis,highlighting multiple targets and complex pathways involved.Notably,both the neuroendocrine system and im-mune system play critical roles in this process.Sustained activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis and the sympathetic nervous system(SNS)lead to the release of hormones such as glucocorticoids(GCs)and norepinephrine(NE),along with the activation of their receptors.Consequently,these events lead to alterations in the tumor microenvironment,promoting the proliferation,migration and invasion of tumor cells.Furthermore,stress hormones produced by the activated neuroendocrine sys-tem can impact the immune system,affecting the quantity and function of immune cells.Simultaneously,psychological stress-in-duced oxidative stress and dysbiosis in the gut microbiota can lead to immune suppression and inflammatory responses,exacerba-ting the immune escape and metastasis of tumor cells.The aim of this article is to delve into the relationship between psychologi-cal stress and tumor metastasis,providing reference for exploring tumor targets and strategies in traditional Chinese medicine treat-ment.
维普
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