Effect of Chronic Psychological Stress on Liver Metastasis of Colon Cancer in Mice

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 7;10(10):e0139978. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139978. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Metastasis to the liver is a main factor in colorectal cancer mortality. Previous studies suggest that chronic psychological stress is important in cancer progression, but its effect on liver metastasis has not been investigated. To address this, we established a liver metastasis model in BALB/c nude mice to investigate the role of chronic stress in liver metastasis. Our data suggest that chronic stress elevates catecholamine levels and promotes liver metastasis. Chronic stress was also associated with increased tumor associated macrophages infiltration into the primary tumor and increased the expression of metastatic genes. Interestingly, β-blocker treatment reversed the effects of chronic stress on liver metastasis. Our results suggest the β-adrenergic signaling pathway is involved in regulating colorectal cancer progression and liver metastasis. Additionally, we submit that adjunctive therapy with a β-blocker may complement existing colorectal cancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / psychology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HT29 Cells / transplantation
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / psychology
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / physiology
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*

Substances

  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta

Grants and funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation (81403350) and Independent Innovation Project of Putuo District, Shanghai (2012PTKW004). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.