Stress Receptor Found to Stimulate Growth and Migration of Cancer Cells

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario have found a positive correlation between stress levels and growth of cancerous cells. Breast cancer seems to be particularly affected by stress. The body’s response to anxiety is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, which is one of the three parts of the autonomic nervous system, and it controls what is commonly known as the body’s fight or flight response. It releases neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and norepinephrine. It also releases neuropeptide Y, known as NPY. Breast cancer cells have receptors for NPY, and the binding of this neurotransmitter stimulates their growth. There is a large quantity of cells involved in the sympathetic response located in the breast, so this would cause a large volume of NPY to be released around the cancerous cells. Neuropeptide Y also accelerates cell migration to other parts of the body, which is known as metastasis. Basically, chronically higher stress levels leads to higher levels of neuropeptide Y, which leads to the multiplication and metastasis of breast cancer cells.

Source: http://insciences.org/article_album_file.php?article_id=10352&articlemedia_id=2541