Can stress cause cancer? 

 Recent studies indicate that stress could facilitate the growth of some types of cancer and even the development of metastases. Animal studies have identified endocrine, cellular, and molecular mechanisms that may underlie these activities. Can stress cause cancer

The turning point has come with research by Anabel Eckerling and her collaborators at the Sagol School of Neuroscience and the School of Psychological Sciences of Tel Aviv University, published in the journal Nature. “Animal models have shown that stressors can favor many characteristic elements of cancer,” the authors say.

Stress directly impacts malignant tissue’s molecular features, microenvironment, anti-tumor immune activity, and other indirect modulators of cancer growth, they write.

Stress may slightly affect cancer growth, according to epidemiological and clinical studies in individuals.

So, “present medical routine does not entail treatments to lessen stress reactions as a method to increase cancer survival,” the researchers noted.
This may reflect medical community disbelief that stress causes and progresses the cant.

THE MECHANISMS

But by what mechanisms could stress induce the development or growth of some forms of cancer? As for the initial transformation of normal tissue into cancer, stress is linked, for example, to the induction of a lower effectiveness of natural cell repair processes.

In addition, stress can reduce the body’s resistance to some types of viruses, called oncogenes, which are now known to be significantly involved in the onset of about 15% of cancer cases. 

Lascatecholamines and glucocorticoids can reactivate human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus, sarcoma-associated Kaposi herpesvirus, and hepatitis C and B viruses.

Catecholamines increase cancer cell proliferation, survival, and migration, which speeds up cancer progression.
In particular, social “stressors” like conflict and loneliness have been researched.

Excessive levels of the catecholamine norepinephrine can also increase tumor innervation, producing a deadly cycle. Likewise, catecholamines can facilitate the development of blood vessels within cancer, a decisive factor for its subsequent growth. This is a common occurrence in cancers such as ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and colorectal.

STIMULATION OF INFLAMMATORY PROCESSES

Another way that stress promotes cancer progression is by stimulating inflammatory processes and inhibiting some key immune system joints. Another area of research that tries to understand any correlation between stress and cancer is that of studies in large populations.

Stress—including depression, isolation, and lack of social support—and environmental factors—including conflicts and climate change—were assessed for patient survival.

Finally, the researchers analyzed clinical papers on psychosocial or psychopharmacological therapies such anxiolytics and antidepressants with cancer progression.
Due to methodological issues, this research could not reach clear results.

RESULTS

In conclusion? “Although the evidence that stress promotes the onset of cancer is inconsistent, on the other hand, there is solid evidence that stress can facilitate the progression of cancer through the modulation of several of its characteristic basic components,” the authors say.

Animal studies and cancer patients have discovered the molecular and systemic pathways that cause these effects. Can stress cause cancer

What about the possibility of launching stress-reduction programs for cancer patients? Anabel Eckerling and her collaborators affirm that “stress management interventions must be tested in critical periods that affect the progression of cancer, especially in the short postoperative period and adjuvant treatments, making comparisons with other periods and accompanying them with pharmacological interventions aimed at counteracting stress and inflammatory responses inevitably caused by medical procedures.”

Long-term therapeutic effects require multicenter experimental research. Can stress cause cancer