fig2

Figure 2. Highlighted pathways linking the brain and periphery in the context of cancer. Environmental (e.g., light, stress) or endogenous signals reach the brain to alter the activity of neurons involved in sleep (LHA hypocretin/orexin), circadian rhythms (SCN-GABA), reward (VTA-Dopamine), metabolism, and energy balance (Parabrachial CGRP). Aberrant activity of these cells promotes signaling in the periphery that ultimately facilitates tumor growth, angiogenesis, and invasiveness. Systems highlighted are bolded in Table 2. LHA: lateral hypothalamic area; SCN: suprachiasmatic nucleus; GABA: gamma amino butyric acid; VTA: ventral tegmental area; PBN: parabrachial nucleus; CGRP: calcitonin gene related peptide; MDSCs: myeloid derived suppressor cells; SNS: sympathetic nervous system; AgRP: agouti related peptide