Involvement of the HPA axis in the relationship between the psychological stress and cancer development.

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Cancers are the leading cause of death in Japan. It is widely considered that psychological stress is one of the important factors that affect carcinogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the causal relationship remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined whether the HPA axis that plays important roles in psychological stress may have impact on tumor cell growth. As results, cortisol, the serum level of which is elevated upon psychological stress, significantly promoted the growth of tumor cells including human stomach, colon, uterus, mammary, and lung cancers, while environmental conditions such as hypoxia also affected the growth rates of the tumors. The present study suggests that the psychological stress may cause cancer development and progression through the HPA pathway.